| #ffffff;" /> | | | | worry. However, the biggest web buzz these days is |
| Staunch critics of this defining evolution of technologies | | | | Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Israeli Vocaltec |
| might still find neither Napster nor the VoIP epitomic of | | | | offered the first Internet Phone product 11 years ago. |
| disruptive technologies after reading my Part 2 on | | | | Now, Skype, Vonage and Google Talk are ferociously |
| Disruptive Technologies. That is logical, as what | | | | promoting the business. |
| Napster replaced is truly debatable, and the VoIP | | | | Voice data packets empower communication |
| technologies have yet to take over traditional | | | | efficiency, as bandwidth lines are not entirely used up |
| telephony. | | | | by ongoing conversations. Reserved bandwidth and |
| Perhaps I should delve deeper into the Napster impact | | | | improved sound quality are making VoIP an effective |
| and the upcoming VoIP challenge to further prove my | | | | alternative to traditional telephony: connection lines are |
| point, that they are indeed disruptive technologies. | | | | constantly being wired all over the world, and voice |
| Peer-2-Peer is not too new (except the term itself): | | | | changer software products promise to bring |
| the first P2P applications, USENET and FidoNet, had | | | | customers clearer nick-voices of their own preference. |
| already been developed in the 1980s. However, | | | | Standard telephone networks, especially mass-market |
| Napster was the first popular P2P music sharing | | | | long-distance services, are already feeling the heat of |
| program. Its 1999 debut launch was so welcomed, | | | | the competition, as many VoIP companies are offering |
| mostly by college students and amateur artistes, that | | | | unlimited calls to anywhere in the world for a very |
| the commercial music industry was sent reeling. Let us | | | | affordable monthly subscription fee. |
| not further discuss the questions of legality, privacy | | | | However, placing phone calls alone does not justify a |
| and copyrights that almost invariantly engulf the topic | | | | global switch-over to VoIP. The technology needs to |
| of Napster but, instead, what was disrupted. | | | | promote a more diverse utility. Fortunately, VoIP can |
| Napster essentially embodies the revolutionizing | | | | do just that; it boasts more potential than just the cost |
| file-swapping P2P technology that has since been | | | | advantage over traditional telephony. Corporate use of |
| evolving, with the like of KaZaa, LimeWire or eMule. It | | | | VoIP is increasing, with IBM and General Motors |
| is said to have heralded a new age of digital bits (not | | | | applying VoIP networks to facilitate their discussions. |
| only music but everything electronically encrypted) | | | | The US Navy also uses Tenor VoIP for secure |
| circulation on the Net, from the central server method | | | | ship-to-shore communications. In addition, one other |
| to a peer network of individual computers all across | | | | important potential of VoIP is said to be site |
| the globe. Indeed, as powerful networked computers | | | | interconnection: university campuses could be |
| and inexpensive bandwidth become available, | | | | interconnected at little costs for effective exchange of |
| peer-to-peer computing is transforming the way | | | | workshop materials and students’ project |
| information is exchanged, stored and valued. It is | | | | works. |
| winning the battle against subscription services (a | | | | Despite many theses, VoIP has not achieved major |
| move by computer giants to take on P2P technology). | | | | market share compared to the long-standing PSTNs |
| Too bad for the latter that P2P is cheap, or even free, | | | | (Public Switched Telephone Networks). But it could in |
| and by far tough to beat. | | | | the near future. In view of the many potential uses of |
| With P2P comes sheer creativity that sustains the | | | | VoIP, that does not seem a wild bet. A spokesperson |
| force: the music editor software industry. It is fair to | | | | from Verizon would agree with me, as he gleefully |
| say that music editors are somewhat | | | | called VoIP a “disruptive technology” |
| underappreciated in the rise of P2P networks. Allow | | | | and touted it as a selling point for DSL lines. |
| me to re-emphasize the point that the majority of | | | | Yes, VoIP and Napster-inspired P2P technology face |
| Napster fans were college students and amateur | | | | challenges of their own on their way to successfully |
| artistes. Both make convenient use of music editor | | | | displace market giants. VoIP needs to develop the |
| softwares developed by Audio4Fun, Sony or Adobe | | | | omnipresent effect to make it the equivalent of mobile |
| to facilitate their P2P experience: the former could | | | | phones, while P2P networks has yet to address the |
| avoid copyrights violation, while the latter perfect their | | | | standard of exchange sources. Furthermore, both are |
| works before publishing. Yet, despite considerable | | | | concerned with the issues of security and quality of |
| contribution to the growth of Napster, music editors are | | | | service. Music editors and voice changers could only |
| not anywhere near the discussion of P2P technologies. | | | | mitigate parts, and not all, of these problems. And as |
| Though modern file-sharing arrangements allow | | | | soon as there is a significant viral outbreak, VoIP and |
| transfers of original copies and all other types of | | | | P2P will go down. |
| electronic documents, music editors and the like | | | | Nevertheless, as long as P2P remains online, and free, |
| together with broadband connection have helped | | | | it may be difficult for Universal or Sony BMG to find |
| effect a shift from the central-server file transfers to | | | | new customers. And VoIP holds the prospect of |
| peer-oriented file sharing. | | | | cheap communication for an increasingly connected |
| P2P not only impacts the music entertainment; the | | | | world. |
| movie and publishing industries are next in queue to | | | | |