Slack
A workplace communication software company, now owned by Salesforce, whose growth was significantly hampered by Microsoft bundling its competing product, Teams, for free with Microsoft Office.
First Mentioned
9/29/2025, 5:46:49 AM
Last Updated
9/29/2025, 5:53:28 AM
Research Retrieved
9/29/2025, 5:53:29 AM
Summary
Slack is a business communication platform that has become a focal point in antitrust discussions, particularly concerning Microsoft's bundling practices. The European Union has charged Microsoft with antitrust violations, stemming from a complaint by Salesforce, over how Microsoft's strategy of including Microsoft Teams for free with its dominant Microsoft Office suite unfairly disadvantages competitors like Slack. This situation has sparked a debate on whether bundling stifles innovation or benefits consumers, with some suggesting à la carte pricing as a fairer market solution.
Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Type
Cloud-based team communication platform
Founded
2013-08-01
Founder
Stewart Butterfield
Service Type
Business-to-business (B2B)
Business Model
Freemium
Primary Userbase
Team-based businesses
Self-description
Operating system for work, bringing together people, processes, data, agents, and AI into one conversational interface
Core Functionalities
Business administration and communication
Timeline
- Slack was founded. (Source: Wikidata)
2013-08-01
- freeCodeCamp attempted to switch its community of over 8,000 users to Slack, but experienced technical issues and was advised by Slack support to limit channels to 500-1000 users. (Source: Web Search (Wikipedia snippet))
2015
- Slack Technologies was acquired by Salesforce. (Source: Web Search (Wikipedia))
2020
- The European Union charged Microsoft with antitrust violations over its bundling of Microsoft Teams with Microsoft Office, a case initiated by a complaint from Salesforce, which unfairly stifled competitors like Slack. (Source: Related Documents, Summary)
2024
Web Search Results
- Slack (software) - Wikipedia
Slack is a cloud-based team communication platform developed by Slack Technologies, which has been owned by Salesforce since 2020. Slack uses a freemium model. Slack is primarily offered as a business-to-business service, with its userbase being predominantly team-based businesses while its functionalities are focused primarily on business administration and communication. ## History [edit&action=edit§ion=1 "Edit section: History")] [...] Slack is a freemium product whose main paid features are the ability to search more than 90 days' archived messages and add unlimited apps and integrations. They also claim support for an unlimited number of users. When freeCodeCamp attempted to switch its community of over 8,000 users to Slack in 2015, however, they experienced many technical issues and were advised by Slack support to limit their channels to "no more than 1,000 users (ideally more like 500)". That specific limit no longer [...] Slack allows communities, groups, or teams to join a "workspace" via a specific URL or invitation sent by a team admin or owner. A workspace can contain both public and private channels, with public channels being accessible to all members of the workspace. Both public and private channels can be converted interchangeably.
- SLACK definition in American English - Collins Dictionary
1.adjective Something that is slack is loose and not firmly stretched or tightly in position. The boy's jaw went slack. 2.adjective A slack period is one in which there is not much work or activity. The workload can be evened out, instead of the shop having busy times and slack periods. 3.adjective Someone who is slack in their work does not do it properly. [disapproval] Many publishers have simply become far too slack. Synonyms:negligent, lazy, lax, idleMore Synonyms of slack [...] 1. not tight, tense, or taut 2. negligent or careless 3. (esp of water, etc) moving slowly 4. (of trade, etc) not busy 5. phonetics another term forlax 1 (sense 4)") adverb 6. in a slack manner noun 7. a part of a rope, etc, that is slack take in the slack 8. a period of decreased activity 9. a. a patch of water without current b. a slackening of a current 10. prosody (in sprungrhythm) the unstressedsyllable or syllables verb 11. to neglect (one's duty, etc) [...] slack in American English 1 (slæk) adjective 1. slow; idle; sluggish 2. barely moving said of a current, as of air or water 3. characterized by little work, trade, or business; not busy or active; dull a slack period 4. loose; relaxed; not tight, taut, or firm 5. easily changed or influenced; weak; lax 6. careless or negligent a slack workman verb transitive 7. to make slack; slacken 8. to slake verb intransitive 9. to be or become slack; slacken 10.
- SLACK Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com
1. a slack condition or part. 2. the part of a rope, sail, or the like, that hangs loose, without strain upon it. 3. a decrease in activity, as in business or work. a sudden slack in output. [...] 1. a part of a rope, etc, that is slack take in the slack 2. a period of decreased activity 3. 1. a patch of water without current 2. a slackening of a current 4. prosody (in sprung rhythm) the unstressed syllable or syllables ## verb 1. to neglect (one's duty, etc) 2. (often foll by off) to loosen; to make slack 3. chem a less common word for slake slack 2 / slæk/ ## noun 1. small pieces of coal with a high ash content Discover More ## Other Word Forms [...] He slacked the most important part. Synonyms: neglect 2. to make or allow to become less active, vigorous, intense, etc.; relax (efforts, labor, speed, etc.); lessen; moderate (often followed byup ). Synonyms: slacken, reduce 3. to make loose, or less tense or taut, as a rope; loosen (often followed by off orout ). 4. to slake (lime). ## verb (used without object) 1. to be remiss; shirk one's duty or part.
- What is Slack?
Skip to main content 1. Slack Help Center 2. Getting started 3. Intro to Slack What is Slack? # What is Slack? Slack is the operating system for work. By bringing together people, processes, data, agents, and AI into one conversational interface, Slack transforms how organizations accomplish their goals. ## Working in Slack Slack keeps teams aligned and operating smoothly. ### Centralized
- SLACK Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
a slack season slackly adverb slackness noun slack 2 of 3 verb 1 a : to be or become slack or careless in performing or doing b : lessen the wind slacked off 2 : to avoid work or duty 3 : loosen sense 2 4 a : to cause to lessen b : slake sense 4 slack 3 of 3 noun 1 : a stopping of movement or flow 2 : a part of something that hangs loose without strain take up the slack of a rope 3 plural : trousers especially for casual wear 4 : a dull season or period : lull 5 [...] : lacking in completeness, finish, or perfection a very slack piece of work slackly adverb slackness noun slack 2 of 5 ## verb slacked; slacking; slacks intransitive verb 1 : to be or become slack 2 : to shirk or evade work or duty transitive verb 1 a : to be slack or negligent in performing or doing b : lessen, moderate 2 : to release tension on : loosen 3 a : to cause to abate b : slake sense 3 slack 3 of 5 ## noun (1) 1 : cessation in movement or flow 2 [...] : a part of something that hangs loose without strain take up the slack of a rope 3 : trousers especially for casual wear —usually used in plural 4 : a dull season or period 5 a : a part that is available but not used some slack in the budget b : a portion (as of labor or resources) that is required but lacking hired a temp to take up the slack 6 : additional leeway or relief from pressure —usually used with cut refused to cut me some slack on the schedule slack 4 of 5
Wikidata
View on WikidataFounder
Instance Of
Inception Date
8/1/2013
DBPedia
View on DBPediaLocation Data
Slack, Outlane, Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England, HD3 3FQ, United Kingdom
Coordinates: 53.6537065, -1.8762060
Open Map