Microsoft halves Vista retail price in China

BEIJING (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O) has more than halved the retail price of its Vista home basic computer operating software package in China to 499 yuan ($66) from 1,521 yuan, and the price of its premium package to 899 yuan from 1,802 yuan, effective from August 1.

The price cut was made to meet market demand for the operating system, the company said in a statement.

Microsoft had sold 60 million Windows Vista licenses globally by the end of June, including 20 million copies sold since mid-May, the company said last month.

The latest version of its dominant Windows operating system was released on January 30.

(US$1=7.57 yuan)