Vole shafts Brits with Office pricing

BAD NEWS FOR BRITS as Microsoft's Office 2007 "Ultimate edition" is set to cost £600, just under 70% more than in the States, according to PC Pro.

It's not only with the ultimate edition where Brits will get screwed over - the "Professional" edition is 72% more in the US retailing at £449.99. Small business has a 69% increase at £399.99 and the Standard edition gets a 67% hike at £349.99. While we in Blightyland are used to paying through the nose compared to our normal-price-enjoying friends across the pond, about 70% is a tad too much, we'd say.

Thee Vole told PC Pro that the stimated prices are based on talks with retail partners, saying that the retailers talk to Vole about what they'd like to charge for the products. "We have an analyst who works the range of prices out and takes an average," a spokesvole said. Thee Vole was also careful to mention that the prices aren't entirely up to the company - it's up to Vole's partners, the company said.

Based on the current exchange rate, Vole's Ultimate edition (meaning last? we're all holding out for Office 2010...) of Office costs £357 in the States. Over here, SMC Direct has priced it at £543.13 while Greymatter.com has listed the product at £523.10. µ