.mobi Are mobile torrents the first big trend of 2008?

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http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=1742

Are mobile torrents the first big trend of 2008?

The first big open source trend of 2008 is already on the horizon.

Mobile Torrents.

Mobile implementations of the BitTorrent protocol are nearly certain to be part of whatever Google Android comes up with, and if not someone will have one for the open platform straightaway.

Already a Windows Torrent product is on Version 2.0, http://www.adisasta.com/wmTorrent.html, and given the video capability of the iPhone it’s clear Apple is not going to let this opportunity pass by. A Symbian Torrent program is on Version 1.3.

Torrent Reactor is listing a bunch of mobile Torrent files, not just the usual suspects of audio and video but games as well.

http://www.torrentreactor.net/sections.php?id=232
http://www.torrentreactor.net/sections.php?id=247

MoveDigital has been offering metered Torrents since last year.

Savvy analysts like Eric Everson of MyMobiSafe are already writing here about the possible security implications of mobile Torrents.

I see the risk before the reward of UMTs but I (like most) am also starved for good mobile content. Mobile torrents will provide a medium for high quality third-party mobile content to enter mass market cellular users.

Sounds about right.

Getting this trend off the ground won’t be easy. The BitTorrent throttling which draws enormous objections when done on the Internet may be standard business practice at AT&T or Verizon wireless.

The latter may be available to new devices, but that doesn’t mean it’s, like, open. They still want to get paid.

My guess is Torrents will start taking off next year only through WiFi hotspots, and on a limited number of phones. But it will be a constant subject of discussion and debate throughout the year.

We’re getting our stake down early.

Also...

http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10006613o-2000440756b,00.htm

Open Source Foundation of Universal Mobile Torrents

Open Source Foundation of Universal Mobile Torrents
By: Eric Everson, Founder MyMobiSafe.com

Torrent platforms are beginning to make their way into the mobile community. As torrents swept through computer based platforms, the same will bode true of mobile torrents. Though mobile torrents face a few unique barriers of entry, the migration towards open source is beckoning the advancement of universal mobile torrents.

The day is forthcoming when universal mobile torrents (UMTs) will work across all mobile operating systems. As torrent technology is a mainstay in the sister industry of computing, UMT’s will saturate cell phones throughout the world.

While not an imminent concern today, such UMTs represent critical security obstacles for cell phone security professionals. As UMTs evolve, all handsets that employ them will be at increased risk of downloading malicious content. As security metrics vary drastically between cell phones and computers, UMTs create greater security vulnerabilities for government, enterprise, and individual cell phone users alike.

With the mobile industry migrating towards open source, the development of true universal mobile torrents is becoming a mobile security reality. Already for specific mobile operating systems WinMobile Torrents and the recently introduced SymTorrent platforms are growing in popularity. With Google’s Android ushering in yet another open platform a torrent package is sure to emerge early for the G-Phone. As cell phones collectively migrate toward open source interlinking the operating systems by means of a UMT is only inevitable.

As the founder of MyMobiSafe.com, naturally I see the risk before the reward of UMTs but I (like most) am also starved for good mobile content. Mobile torrents will provide a medium for high quality third-party mobile content to enter mass market cellular users.

Here’s to what’s hot in mobile!

Your friend and mobile security expert,
Eric Everson, Founder
MyMobiSafe.com