"The new system, called BitTorrent DNA (Delivery Network Accelerator), applies the basic BitTorrent concepts to file downloads and streaming video delivery, but with a twist. Content is at first distributed through a company's normal channels, usually a content delivery network like Akamai or Limelight.
"As the video is streamed to users, though, they begin to cache it locally. The DNA app breaks the video up into bits, and new viewers of the stream will start to draw on peers for data rather than the content provider. BitTorrent estimates that more than half of a company's bandwidth for this sort of streaming can be offloaded onto the P2P network, which is managed and secured by BitTorrent."
Bit Torrent already rents or sells videos but will be joining with content providers to use the new system, thus avoiding the issue of obtaining permission to use copyrighted material.
Bit Torrent's DNA future depends on the quality of its transmissions. But anything that adds to available modes and lowers cost will undoubtedly put pressure on cable, phone, and broadcast companies which tend to be local monopolies. More competition is a happy development.
