Open Content Network
This may be the new Napster. The Open Content Network is a peer-to-peer system for delivering large files (read: media, such as audio and video) using a technology called "Content-Addressable Web" that mimics the edge services provided by Akamai and other content delivery networks. The idea with edge services is to get content as close to end-users as possible and through multiple routes. In a P2P architecture, a single PC could be pulling parts of a file from several different PCs in the Open Content Network.
Interesting. Worth watching. As broadband proliferates, this will improve the delivery of content between individuals -- but since most "broadband" services are only fast on the downstream side, there is still an unnatural monopoly on the carrier's part because they can choke off edge servers they don't own and claim they provide better quality of service. Likewise, I suspect that the RIAA will be watching carefully for signs of "abuse" of copyright.
Posted by Mitch Ratcliffe at January 29, 2003 08:21 PM | TrackBack