Microsoft has slashed the Chinese price of its Office suite for home users by more than 70 per cent in a promotional campaign aimed at persuading consumers in the piracy-plagued market that licensed programs can be affordable.

The promotion brings the cost of Office Home and Student 2007 in China from Rmb699 to only Rmb199 ($29) – a level less than one-seventh of the retail price Microsoft was recommending for the suite of word-processing, spreadsheet and presentation software just three months ago.