How BitTorrent Could Help Microsoft
Written by Smaran on November 28, 2006Microsoft is a large corporation, and most large corporations distrust everything to do with filesharing. What they don’t realise is how much they stand to gain from from filesharing networks, in paticular, BitTorrent.
Not too long ago, Microsoft announced its Xbox Video Service. It has proven to be clunky, and at times, non-functional. Users have been experiencing all sorts of problems with it. From extremely slow downloads to glitches and failed transfers. Even Xbox’s Larry Hryb said “technical issues have resulted in a very unpleasant experience” for users. The BBC recently reported on the Xbox Video Service problems:
The problems reflect the difficulty companies – even those of the size of Microsoft – are having in getting video into the online age.
Video content in high definition results in very large file sizes – which can put a strain on servers when delivering content to thousands of people at the same time.
When Microsoft released the second Beta of Windows Vista, it had a major bandwidth problem on its hands. The demand for it was so high that they had to resort to limiting bandwidth to “prevent the internet from collapsing.” This resulted in slower downloads for everyone. The genial Chris Pirillo then created Vistatorrent.com to give Microsoft a hand by easing the load on their servers. Microsoft didn’t seem to mind initially, but later sent Vistatorrent a cease and desist letter, a framed version of which was later presented to Prillio and the gang at Gnomedex.
So what’s a poor multinational to do?
Use BitTorrent, of course! Here’s how BitTorrent could help Microsoft.
First of, with the Vista Beta downloads, it only made sense for Microsoft to release an official torrent. The result of Microsoft not doing was a host of “pirated” Vista torrents being uploaded, the quality and authenticity of which Microsoft couldn’t assure. And when you’re offering a Beta version, you want people to download it and thoroughly test it for bugs, not limit enthusiastic fans (if that’s what you can call them).
Secondly, if Microsoft’s Xbox Video Service used BitTorrent to distribute content it would speed up downloads and ensure that they are not interrupted. It would also save Microsoft a lot of money on bandwidth bills, because as you probably know, files are downloaded from other people over BitTorrent and the load is spread out, not focused on a few servers. Users could even get free ‘points’ (or Microsoft Monopoly money, as Macworld likes to call it) for seeding torrents. The overall experience of purchasing content and downloading it would be a lot more streamlined and smooth.
The only possible drawback is that users won’t be able to start watching a movie after just a few minutes of downloading, since BitTorrent downloads aren’t chronological, bits are prioritised by the number of people uploading them (the less seeders sharing a bit, higher the priority it’s given), and not by the actual order in which they are in the file.
Previously: Oversized Video Clips at BitTorrent.com
Next: Online TV on the Rise
21 Responses
MS is (was?) helping the Cambridge university in the development of file sharing protocol similar to BitTorrent but more efficient (instead of sharing pieces you share linear combinations of pieces, to avoid the rare-pieces problem).
http://www.research.microsoft.com/~pablo/papers/nc_contentdist.pdf
This Avalanche system from MS looks cool (the BitTorrent like one), but since long time I have not heard any news or read newer research from it.
Also until now it’s very theoretical – either they have not built a useful application to use these ideas, or they don’t want to publish it for now. I wonder if they still develop/research P2P, and Avalanche; would be good.
That maybe true for unthrottled connection. Unfortunately, with the new DPI(Deep Packet Inspection), even with encrypted protocol, it won’t work for those who under ISP restriction of P2P. More and more ISP are using these new device to throttle and limit the P2P traffic such as bit torrent. So, using bit torrent isn’t a suitable solution although I prefer Microsoft to offer both content using bit torrent and direct download from their server.
Here is reference to “Avalanche” software distribution model http://blogs.msdn.com/somasegar/archive/2005/11/23/496499.aspx
If I had an XBox 1.5 and even thought of using the video download service, I certainly wouldn’t want it to come to me via BT. M$ Would be making money off of MY bandwidth. It’d be one thing if the videos were free(yeah right!) but to pay for the content and having to share my bandwidth? Fuck that.
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Linux relies a lot on Torrents. And is doing very well. Microsux can learn.
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