Microsoft to Drop $900 Million in China

One week after Chinese President Hu Jintao made a visit to the home of Bill Gates before heading to the White House, Microsoft has announced it will invest $900 million into the country. The spending includes plans to purchase $700 million in hardware from Chinese firms over the next five years.

In addition, Microsoft agreed with China's National Development and Reform Commission to invest $200 million into Chinese software companies by forming joint ventures and partnerships in the country. In return, Chinese companies will make large purchases of Windows licenses and help to stamp out piracy, which has become a major problem to China's software industry.