Microsoft Puts a $1.3 Billion Price Tag on Windows Vista

Microsoft managed to sell 20 million licenses of Windows Vista in the operating system's first month of availability following the January 30, 2007 release. But a fresh deal inked by Microsoft in Everest's country may yet eclipse the superb market performance delivered by Vista in the first 30 days on the shelves.

Microsoft and the Lenovo Group have announced an agreement that involves a $1.3 billion transaction over Windows Vista, the Office 2007 System and additional software suites for personal computers. The $1.3 billion deal is a new record for the collaboration between Lenovo and Microsoft, but at the same time, it is only a natural step in the evolution of the commercial relations between the two companies.

In this context, Microsoft and Lenovo advance a collaboration debuted in 2005. Approximately two years ago, Lenovo became the first personal computer manufacturer that delivered machines for the Chinese market with the Windows platform pre-installed. The initiative started in November 2005 was a direct result of a new governmental decision designed to act as a measure countering software piracy. The Chinese Government forced all local PC manufacturers to pre-install the operating system software on the computers sold in the country.

In 2006 alone, Lenovo acquired $1.2 billion Windows licenses for the operating systems that were pre-installed on its computers. But despite this and similar measures to combat software piracy, China has recently been labeled as the top heaven for copyright infringement alongside Russia.

Independent reports claimed that Microsoft has sold only 244 genuine licenses of Windows Vista in the first two weeks of availability on the Chinese market. However, Microsoft failed to confirm this figure, but also to reveal the actual number.