Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cloud
    • Cloud

    Microsoft-LinkedIn Deal Appears Close to Approval in EU

    By
    Pedro Hernandez
    -
    November 23, 2016
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin
      Microsoft-LinkedIn EU

      Microsoft’s $26 billion bid to acquire LinkedIn is taking a big step closer toward becoming a done deal.

      The European Union’s (EU) antitrust authority is set to give the merger its approval when it decides on the matter on Dec. 6, Reuters reported today, citing information from unnamed insiders.

      EU regulators had originally set a Nov. 22 deadline, but extended its review after Microsoft proposed new concessions intended to ease concerns about how the deal could affect the competitive landscape. The Redmond, Wash. software giant has already gained the approval of regulators in the United States, as well as Brazil Canada and South Africa.

      To win the European Commission’s blessing, Microsoft is proposing to allow rival professional social networks access to the company’s Outlook add-ins program, enabling them to integrate with the email and calendar client, according a Nov. 22 report in the Wall Street Journal. Microsoft also said it would allow Dell and other computer makers to disable the LinkedIn shortcut on their desktop PCs.

      One of the deal’s biggest opponents is Salesforce, which lost a bid to acquire the massive professional network. Burke Norton, chief legal officer of Salesforce, said the “acquisition of LinkedIn threatens the future of innovation and competition,” in a Sept. 29 statement to the press.

      “By gaining ownership of LinkedIn’s unique dataset of over 450 million professionals in more than 200 countries, Microsoft will be able to deny competitors access to that data, and in doing so obtain an unfair competitive advantage,” continued Norton. “We intend to work closely with regulators, lawmakers and other stakeholders to make the case that this merger is anticompetitive.”

      Microsoft anticipates that bringing LinkedIn and its millions of members into the fold will have a big ripple effect across its business software ecosystem.

      “This deal is the next step forward for Office 365 and Dynamics as they connect to the world’s largest and most valuable professional network,” wrote Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, in a June 13 letter to employees. “In essence, we can reinvent ways to make professionals more productive while at the same time reinventing selling, marketing and talent-management business processes.”

      Meanwhile, recent moves by Roskomnadzor, Russia’s communications oversight agency, have added a new wrinkle to the proceedings.

      Last week, Roskomnadzor blocked access to LinkedIn after a court ruled that the company had violated a law requiring that data pertaining to Russian citizens be stored on servers within the country’s borders. Users who point their browsers to LinkedIn are greeted by messages from their internet service providers indicating that they are attempting to access a restricted site.

      LinkedIn and the bulk of its infrastructure resides in the U.S. The law was enacted by President Vladimir Putin in 2014, but it went into effect this year. The dust up is unlikely to have much of an effect on the multi-billion-dollar acquisition since LinkedIn only has 6 million users in Russia.

      Pedro Hernandez
      Pedro Hernandez is a contributor to eWEEK and the IT Business Edge Network, the network for technology professionals. Previously, he served as a managing editor for the Internet.com network of IT-related websites and as the Green IT curator for GigaOM Pro.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×