Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft (MSFT.NYSE, MSFT.NASDAQ), decried rampant software piracy in China during a talk with Microsoft employees in the country, the Wall Street Journal reported. Ballmer said that despite the US and China having nearly equal volume of computer sales, Microsoft’s revenues in China are just 5% of that in the US. The firm’s revenue per computer sold in China is a sixth of that of India. Microsoft has worked to cultivate ties with Beijing, hoping to convince the government to crack down on ubiquitous software piracy, to little avail. Microsoft’s flagship Windows and Office software retails on street corners for US$2-3. Microsoft is keen to raise revenues in the China market, which analysts say will likely surpass the US as the world’s biggest personal computer market in 2012.
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