Redmond based software giants Microsoft are developing a peer-to-peer file-sharing service in Cambridge, UK.
The software, codenamed Avalanche, works in a similar way to the popular BitTorrernt software by dividing files such as MP3's video clips etc in to 'bits' or chunks using complex algorithms.
BitTorrent has not been without its fair share of controversy with numerous sites being closed down by the Motion Pictures Association of America et al following illegal sofware being downloaded. Such sites say they are doing nothing wrong because they don't store information on them, they merely host links called trackers which provide information on where to download the files from.
P2P sharing is also used for legal downloading.
Avalanche differs from BitTorrent in that it doesn't use trackers; the Avalanch program shares the files automatically without having to search hard drives.
Avalanche also uses "network coding", which means it can recreate missing blocks of data that can be used in place of missing chunks.
Microsoft aims to help to curtail illegal file sharing because the system will only forward files that have been "signed" by the publisher.
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