China launches antitrust probe against Microsoft

Microsoft (MSFT.NASDAQ) said it was under an antitrust investigation in China, as officials from the State Administration for Industry and Commerce visited some of its local offices on Monday, Financial Times reported. Microsoft’s offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu were all the subject of unannounced visits from the SAIC, one of three Chinese antitrust bodies, Chinese media reported on Monday. The investigation is the latest setback for Microsoft in China, following a ban on central government purchases of its Windows 8 PC software, which was imposed in May over alleged concerns about security.