Microsoft Corp. plans to release a low-cost version of its Windows software for India in an attempt to check high piracy levels, the legal affairs head of the world's largest independent software maker said.

"We will launch more value products at affordable prices in India soon to reduce software piracy levels," Bradford Smith told reporters in the southern city of Hyderabad, where Microsoft has a software development facility.

The low-cost Windows starter version for India will be available in Hindi and English at 1,000 rupees ($22.7), which would also help reduce entry-level personal computer prices to 10,000 rupees, he said.

Smith said Indian piracy level was around 73 per cent.

Microsoft's practice echoes that of global publishers, many of whom print lower cost versions of books whose sale is restricted to India or South Asia.

(www.financialexpress.com)