Monday, October 02, 2006

0th Week: Every TINYINT Helps

Tesco are to launch their own-branded software, reports the BBC.

This new range, to be launched later this month, includes office software, "security systems" (presumably antivirus and firewall), photo editing, and a CD/DVD burning suite. Now, this is an interesting move... From the report:
"When it comes to software there is little choice and prices are high. Our new range of software changes this, bringing choice and value to the market that has offered little of either for too long." -- Tesco buyer Daniel Cook

I have no doubt that these aren't the real motives for the venture - rather, increased profits and market share are, quite understandably. But it struck me just how close the stated reasons are to those of the free/OSS movement. Providing choice in a market that's offered little? As for value, you don't get much better than free (as in beer).

Of course, Tesco haven't hired a vast army of programmers for this; rather, they've signed an agreement with Formjet PLC, which gives a clue as to exactly what sort of products we'll be buying with our cornflakes. (Don't delve too deeply on their website, though, or you'll end up with lots of "Untitled Document"s.)

Could this be a big blow for OSS in the UK? With cheap software available from the UK's leading supermarket, will fewer people turn to free alternatives like OpenOffice? Or will it make people realise that not all software is made in Redmond, and start looking for alternatives?

Tesco's software range launches in late October in about 100 stores.

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