Microsoft has no plans to extend to Britain a deal allowing you to use three copies of the Student and Home edition of Office, Live web services, and OneCare security for $70 (£35) a year.

The Student Edition includes Word, Excell, Powerpoint and OneNote but not Outloook; Windows Live web services includie webmail, instant messaging, and photo hosting.

The deal includes three licences and so works out at around £12 per machine (or user) a year. It could be seen as a further indication of pressure on Microsoft pricing, but also a bid to coax people into using the company's web services.

However Microsoft said today that there are no plans to introduce the bundle, called Equipt, to Britain. A spokesman said: "We' keep you informed if there are any changes."