Microsoft has cut the price of its Vista software in half in China in a bid to cut piracy.

According to the The Wall Street Journal Microsoft has slashed the price on its Vista Home Basic package to 499 yuan (66 dollars) from 1,521 yuan, and its Vista Home Premium package to 899 yuan from 1,802 yuan.

The move is seen as the latest tactic in Microsoft's efforts to spread legitimate products in the China market. A statement from Microsoft claimed that pre-installed Vista was already getting popular in China.