Napster
Two college students, 19-year-old Shawn Fanning and 20-year-old
Sean Parker founded Napster in May 1999. They originally just
wanted to trade music over the Internet with their friends, however,
other users latched onto this software and soon, it became
global phenomenon. In February 2001, it had 29.4 million registered
users who shared 2.79 billion files in the same month.
Sean Parker founded Napster in May 1999. They originally just
wanted to trade music over the Internet with their friends, however,
other users latched onto this software and soon, it became
global phenomenon. In February 2001, it had 29.4 million registered
users who shared 2.79 billion files in the same month.
However, the major drawback of Napster was the need to connect
to a central server to authenticate and then pass the control back
to the nodes for further file transfer. In this kind of a system, theserver maintains directories of what is stored in each peer computer.The central server directs the connections between peers.
Thus, while the connection is made directly from peer to peer,
server is still necessary.
to a central server to authenticate and then pass the control back
to the nodes for further file transfer. In this kind of a system, theserver maintains directories of what is stored in each peer computer.The central server directs the connections between peers.
Thus, while the connection is made directly from peer to peer,
server is still necessary.
When a new user installs the client software in the computer and then goes online using the software, he is first connected to
the central server. Once connected, he can then search for a specific song and sends his search on the server.
the central server. Once connected, he can then search for a specific song and sends his search on the server.
On the server side, it has indexed files that are available on
other nodes connected to the server. Depending on the search
you have sent, you will find a list of files or results. Now you can
sort the results according to the bit rate, file size, artist name or any of the other factors important to you and get a more relevant
file list.
other nodes connected to the server. Depending on the search
you have sent, you will find a list of files or results. Now you can
sort the results according to the bit rate, file size, artist name or any of the other factors important to you and get a more relevant
file list.
Once you have chosen what file to download, the Napster software
on the other end of the line will upload the file directly to them.
The locations of all the music files of the users that are currently
online are kept on the central network, but the files themselves stay on the users’ computers until another computer asks for it.
on the other end of the line will upload the file directly to them.
The locations of all the music files of the users that are currently
online are kept on the central network, but the files themselves stay on the users’ computers until another computer asks for it.
The main advantage of a network such as Napster is the easy
access provided to users for searching any music. Once connected,
all you needed to do was send a search-and a specific one at thatto
get whatever you want.
access provided to users for searching any music. Once connected,
all you needed to do was send a search-and a specific one at thatto
get whatever you want.
Another factor is that unlike Web search results that are not
updated from time to time, results obtained from Napster are current
and available. One click and the download is on! Moreover,
downloads are multi-threaded, so all available parts from sources are to be downloaded first instead of a sequential download. This multithreaded downloading principle is currently implemented in newer P2P software and even in software such as Mass Downloader and
Flashget which let you make HTTP downloads faster.
updated from time to time, results obtained from Napster are current
and available. One click and the download is on! Moreover,
downloads are multi-threaded, so all available parts from sources are to be downloaded first instead of a sequential download. This multithreaded downloading principle is currently implemented in newer P2P software and even in software such as Mass Downloader and
Flashget which let you make HTTP downloads faster.
In case of Napster, the system makes available a massive variety
of music, because the users provide the files, not Napster. Napster
just provides the software and network infrastructure, and users
provide the content. This system inherently provides more benefit
to the users the more popular it becomes. Popularity in this case
is a direct result of improving content.
Napster’s revenue plans included selling advertising space on
their Web site and use their brand equity to sell T-shirts. But the
revenue generated using such an idea amounted to peanuts and so
Napster was considered a free service and users just kept logging
on and downloading.
of music, because the users provide the files, not Napster. Napster
just provides the software and network infrastructure, and users
provide the content. This system inherently provides more benefit
to the users the more popular it becomes. Popularity in this case
is a direct result of improving content.
Napster’s revenue plans included selling advertising space on
their Web site and use their brand equity to sell T-shirts. But the
revenue generated using such an idea amounted to peanuts and so
Napster was considered a free service and users just kept logging
on and downloading.
However, there was one slight problem. The music industry in
America is one of the biggest worldwide. Napster only dealt with
music files and not with any other types such as documents or
applications. This kept it out of the legal roadblocks but eventually the music industry’s feathers were ruffled.
America is one of the biggest worldwide. Napster only dealt with
music files and not with any other types such as documents or
applications. This kept it out of the legal roadblocks but eventually the music industry’s feathers were ruffled.
Using legal resources, the Napster service was shut down by
the American Music Industry that cited several reasons including
artists not receiving their rightful dues due to the Napster service.
the American Music Industry that cited several reasons including
artists not receiving their rightful dues due to the Napster service.
Finally, Napster was shut down and merged with Bertelsmann
(BMG Music). In its current avatar, Napster is charging an access
fee for all their services and is now selling music online as well.
But this was not the end of the world for P2P users. By the time
Napster got into a legal tangle with the authorities, networks such
as KaZaA and eDonkey had already arrived and users were switching
to these networks, fast.
(BMG Music). In its current avatar, Napster is charging an access
fee for all their services and is now selling music online as well.
But this was not the end of the world for P2P users. By the time
Napster got into a legal tangle with the authorities, networks such
as KaZaA and eDonkey had already arrived and users were switching
to these networks, fast.
