Here’s a nifty little twist in the world of P2P networks: using cell phones as nodes on a huge P2P web. French start upApeerais trying to champion such an idea, and they seem to have made some nice inroads to get it off the ground.
“Our unique products enable mobile subscribers to share applications such as games, pictures and ring tones between mobile phones. Yet keep the application distribution under the service provider’s control.”
“Apeera’s innovative product architecture is based on creating a network-based facility for personal application/content storage.”
Sounds good, doesn’t it? Apeera sells the technology to cellular providers and then they decide what to offer in terms of services. The current buzz words are ring tones and simple java games, but the sky is the limit, and enterprising power users will start their own services.The Register’scoverage mentions the fact that Apeera is being very hush-hush on the hard details.
“We say “expected” because technical details and Apeera’s business remain vague. Are we talking a centralised data clipboard – which allows users to share data – or a true P2P network where data goes between phones?”
Keeping it vague is a good idea, since the RIAA and MPAA seem to be looking for new technology to sue into nonexistence. Remember, Napster went under because of litigation, not because of a lack of market penetration or user support. When copyrighted material begins to be traded over cell phones, and of course it’s only a matter of time, who takes responsibility as the target? Apeera’s software will put the responsibility on the cellular providers. On the Ars front page you can find two other stories about filesharing today. This is becoming an increasingly rough business to break into, or to even open a free service. The potential userbase is large, but as Napster shareholders can tell you, so are the risks.