November 29th, 2007
Are mobile Torrents the first big trend of 2008?
The first big open source trend of 2008 is already on the horizon.
Mobile implementations of the BitTorrent protocol are nearly certain to be part of whatever Google Android comes up with, and if not someone will have one for the open platform straightaway.
Already a Windows Torrent product is on Version 2.0, and given the video capability of the iPhone it’s clear Apple is not going to let this opportunity pass by. A Symbian Torrent program is on Version 1.3.
Torrent Reactor is listing a bunch of mobile Torrent files, not just the usual suspects of audio and video but games as well. MoveDigital has been offering metered Torrents since last year.
Savvy analysts like Eric Everson of MyMobiSafe are already writing here about the possible security implications of mobile Torrents.
I see the risk before the reward of UMTs but I (like most) am also starved for good mobile content. Mobile torrents will provide a medium for high quality third-party mobile content to enter mass market cellular users.
Sounds about right.
Getting this trend off the ground won’t be easy. The BitTorrent throttling which draws enormous objections when done on the Internet may be standard business practice at AT&T or Verizon wireless.
The latter may be available to new devices, but that doesn’t mean it’s, like, open. They still want to get paid.
My guess is Torrents will start taking off next year only through WiFi hotspots, and on a limited number of phones. But it will be a constant subject of discussion and debate throughout the year.
We’re getting our stake down early.
Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist for 30 years, a tech freelancer since 1983. You can follow Dana on Twitter. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 11/30/07
