Start-up launches P2P content delivery network
 
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Kontiki, the P2P content distribution company founded by several former Netscape employees, has released version 1.0 of the Kontiki Delivery Network.
The company claims it offers faster Internet downloads with an emphasis on providing speedier access to video files. The network is aimed at delivering Internet video and other digital media.
The service is based on patent-pending "bandwidth harvesting" technology, which distributes digital content from PCs throughout the Internet. Kontiki, which was launched in August, is creating its Delivery Network with 50,000 nodes.
Former Netscape CEO Jim Barksdale is helping Kontiki via his venture capital firm The Barksdale Group and Netscape founder Marc Andreessen is also affiliated with the start up.
Andreessen's involvement with the Loudcloud Web infrastructure company and Sigma Networks, which links high-speed backbone and metropolitan fiber networks could also help boost Kontiki. Even in the current bleak market for funding technology start-ups, Sigma scored $435 million in its first round of financing.
Originally known as Zodiac Networks, Kontiki is funded in part by Benchmark Capital. Other companies such as Blue Falcon, Peer Genius, Open Cola, WebEver, and Red Swoosh, are also building P2P products to distribute and store content far cheaper than can be accomplished with centralized server systems. Both the Kontiki and Red Swoosh systems also allow users to download from a central repository in case a desktop-based peer is unstable or too far away.
Of course companies like Kontiki will have to wrestle with ever-present security issues and give users a reason to donate their storage space and bandwidth to the network.
Two group of beta testers are slated give the Kontiki product a spin. The first are content companies that want to distribute large files to consumers such as online vide and video games. Big companies that want to distribute video to their employees will comprise the second beta group.
Pilot testers include Loudcloud, Palm, TiVo and VeriSign. Newer customers include the Sundance Film Festival, McAfee.com and CNET Networks.
RELATED LINKS
Network World Fusion, 08/03/01
Kontiki keen on content delivery plan
Network World, 08/13/01
Ann Harrison is a technology reporter in San Francisco. She can be reached at ah@well.com.
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