Napster Optimizes File Sharing with IBM

The old dogma that file sharing soaks up bandwidth may find itself challenged. Napster has partnered up with IBM to create its "Super Peer" application. Napster is offering ISPs, businesses and universities on-site managed servers designed to free up network resources for mission critical applications, dynamically manage bandwidth, and improve security.

Super Peer uses Big Blue's support services and eServer BladeCenter hardware running Linux, and an active cache-management system to deliver authorized digital content through a centrally served application. This design has allowed the University of Rochester to offer its students access to Napster's music store while capping file demand and reserving resources for teaching and research applications.

Napster's cache-management stores digital files locally for streaming or downloading without accessing the Internet. IBM's installation, support and management services outsource the maintenance and configuration of Napster's service away from its customers.

"When we embarked on our industry-leading university program, we set out to alleviate the technical and business strains illegal file sharing puts on Universities and ISPs," said Bill Pence, Napster's CTO.

Universities such as Rochester and Penn State have been experimenting with campus-wide access to music stores to cull the illicit sharing of copyrighted materials.

Apple's iTunes remains the most popular music store with over 25 million songs sold and benefits from a partnership with America Online that provides interoperability with AOL screen names.  In addition, RealNetworks, Dell, Wal-Mart and MSN are also competing for a piece of the online digital music market.