Microsoft starts testing its own P2P

[TankGirl]

From C|Net News:


Microsoft next week plans to begin testing a radically new instant messaging and communications product aimed at teenagers and young adults who grew up using the Internet.

The new software, called Threedegrees, creates a peer-to-peer social group in which people can chat, share photos, listen to music and meet friends. Concurrently with the test, or beta, program, Microsoft also plans to release the Windows Peer-to-Peer Update for Windows XP.

To use Threedegrees, prospective testers must be running Windows XP with Service Pack 1, the peer-to-peer update and MSN Messenger 5 installed on their computers. The software allows people to create groups, in which up to 10 people can participate in the same instant messaging session. Group members also can share animation and photos or listen to music.

....


Microsoft used the dinner party as the model for developing the size of the social group and the way music is shared within it.

"It's not uncommon for someone to bring a new CD of a new band they've heard," she said. "That's a very common way for people to learn about new music is through their friends. In fact, word of mouth for music adoption is the most popular way for music to be adopted."

Group members can create playlists of 60 songs, or the equivalent of five or six CDs. The songs are played from the participant's hard drive, rather than being illegally swapped. Songs can be in Windows Media Audio, MP3 or WAV formats.

Pretty lame, eh?

- tg