DUSSELDORF, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Germany's competition

watchdog said on Monday that it had classified Microsoft ( MSFT )

as a "company with paramount cross-market significance

for competition", meaning that it can take stronger action

against the tech giant going forward.

"Microsoft's ( MSFT ) many products are ubiquitous and indispensable

in companies, public authorities and private households," said

Andreas Mundt, head of the Bundeskartellamt. "The Microsoft ( MSFT )

ecosystem is now more interwoven and stronger than ever before."

The cartel office said the new classification - also given

to Apple ( AAPL ), Google and Meta - meant that Microsoft ( MSFT ) would now come

under more stringent supervision and could face bans on

anti-competitive practices.

"We recognize our responsibility to support a healthy

competitive environment and we will strive to be proactive,

collaborative and responsible in working with the

Bundeskartellamt," a Microsoft ( MSFT ) spokesperson said.

In June, Microsoft ( MSFT ) was hit with a hefty antitrust fine after

the European Commission accused it of illegally linking its chat

and video app Teams with its Office product, giving it an unfair

advantage over rivals such as Slack.

The German enforcer said on Monday that its new powers

applied to Microsoft ( MSFT ) as a whole and not just to individual

services or products.