FirstPeer, a new San Diego-based person-to-person application service provider, announced Tuesday the release of the first open unifying platform for bringing together applications, devices and people in the new peer-to-peer paradigm.
FirstPeer’s Personal Servant is a servant-based system that extends the existing Internet infrastructure. Built on the basis of widely accepted protocols of XML, DNS, XMP-RPC and Jabber instant messaging, FirstPeer’s Personal Servant manages the interaction among applications and devices on a direct peer-to-peer basis. Individuals, businesses and groups can be found and connected together to share applications and devices.
A peer-to-peer network is a communications network that allows all workstations and computers in the network to act as servers to all other users on the network. Dedicated file servers may be used, but are not required as in a client/server network.
“FirstPeer has created a tool that will change the way businesses and individuals communicate, search and receive information in a peer-to-peer environment,” said Brent Gutekunst, president of FirstPeer. “Through our Personal Servant, FirstPeer has given developers the ammunition to create the revolutionary person-to-person applications services and marketplaces of tomorrow.”
The Personal Servant is available for Windows, Linux and Macintosh, and can be downloaded for free from the company’s Web site.
By the end of the first quarter 2001, FirstPeer will provide peer-to-peer applications powered by the Personal Servant.