Google, AWS slam Microsoft over ‘harmful, unfair’ cloud changes

Amazon Web Services and Google criticised Microsoft’s cloud computing changes on Tuesday, saying they limit competition and discourage customers from switching to rival cloud service providers.

The US software giant on Monday announced amended licensing deals and other changes that will take effect on 1 October and which they say will make it easier for cloud service providers to compete.

Amazon, Google, Alibaba and Microsoft’s own cloud services will be excluded from the deals.

Microsoft’s move came after smaller European Union competitors took their grievances about its cloud service practices to EU antitrust regulators, which subsequently quizzed market players on the issue and what impact they have experienced.

AWS, the leading cloud service provider trailed by Microsoft and Google, was scathing in its critiques.

Read: Microsoft changes cloud licence terms after complaints

“Microsoft is now doubling down on the same harmful practices by implementing even more restrictions in an unfair attempt to limit the competition it faces – rather than listening to its customers and restoring fair software licensing in the cloud for everyone,” a spokesman for AWS said in an e-mail.

Google’s vice president for government affairs and policy Google Cloud Marcus Jadotte was equally critical. “The promise of the cloud is flexible, elastic computing without contractual lock-ins,” he said in a tweet.

Read: Google’s cloud unit turns to ARM, adding to Intel, AMD pressure

“Customers should be able to move freely across platforms and choose the technology that works best for them, rather than what works best for Microsoft,” Jadotte said.  — Foo Yun Chee, (c) 2022 Reuters

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