What's better than free Microsoft (MSFT) software? Paid Microsoft software.

Microsoft has announced plans to launch a one-week discount of nearly 70% on its Office product in China during the Chinese National Day holiday. The world's leading software maker said that it will reduce the retail prices of its Office Suite 2007 home edition and student edition from CNY699 to CNY199 in the holiday promotion. The promotion will not include Microsoft's system software such as Windows XP or Windows Vista and it will finish at the end of the Golden Week holiday on Ocotber 5.

Microsoft recently also reduced the prices of its Office Suite 2007 home edition and student edition from CNY1,451 to CNY699, a decrease of over 50%.

Having fully prepared for the promotion, Microsoft will cooperate with many online and offline retail channels in China, including Federal Software's shops, Suning, Joyo-Amazon, Dangdang.com, Carrefour and Best Buy, where the discounted Office products will be available.

The price cut will become a common strategy of Microsoft in the future and they will implement promotions during every Chinese traditional holiday, including the Spring Festival and the summer holidays. The company wants "every man, woman and child" in the country to use Microsoft's authentic software.