Tesco is to start selling cut-price software, in a move that could spark a price war among the major vendors. The supermarket chain is aiming to steal market share from the likes of Microsoft and Symantec. It will offer six products all costing under £20, cutting a substantial discount compared with rival products. "We will be offering unbeatable prices, but with good quality as well," a Tesco spokesperson told ZDNet. Tesco's software will include antivirus, firewall and office productivity products. Symantec took a positive line, telling ZDNet UK that "we welcome healthy competition". Microsoft was also supportive. "We welcome competition in all its markets, because it drives innovation and keeps prices competitive — both of which benefit our customers and our reseller channel," said a Microsoft spokesperson. Tesco is entering a crowded marketplace, taking on not only the likes of the global software vendors, but also a whole host of low-cost or free alternatives such as OpenOffice.