Microsoft is planning to offer PC manufacturers $2 per copy of Microsoft Office Starter 2010, if they pre-install the Bing bar and Windows Live Essential. PC makers can also opt to not install the Bing bar and Windows Live Essentials, but will pay $5 per copy of Microsoft Office Starter 2010. A significant price difference when PC makers are purchasing licenses in very large quantities.

Microsoft will also be releasing Microsoft Office 2010 single-license key cards, which won't actually contain any data on them, other than a serial key. These key cards will be available in major retail stores, which will active Office 2010 on customers PCs. Microsoft Office Starter 2010 comes with an ad-based version of Word and Excel, with limited functionality (no macros).