P2P systems let users search and access data and content held on other users' systems, rather than on a server. Gartner said P2P poses challenges in security, policy and workflow, but said firms will gain "significant competitive advantage" by being able to access content quickly via P2P systems.
Microsoft aims to be a pioneer of corporate P2P products, and today unveils a development platform codenamed Hailstorm. Hailstorm lets firms create P2P services accessible via the Web from any Net-connected client, including non-Windows devices. It is due to ship in mid-2002.
Hailstorm is part of Microsoft's dot-Net initiative and includes new versions of its MSN Messenger instant messaging technology, Passport authentication service, and Hotmail. Developers will be able to embed these and other services into their own dot-Net compliant services.
With Hailstorm, Microsoft wants to position instant messaging as a Web services development platform. David Stutz, a software architect at Microsoft, said, "Microsoft is keen on peer-to-peer because it puts PCs to work. There's a lot of P2P in dot-Net."
