BitTorrent preps P2P sync service for personal files

BitTorrent has announced plans to offer a new service that utilizes peer-to-peer technology to synchronize personal files between multiple devices. The <A href="http://labs.bittorrent.com/experiments/sync.html?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Post&utm_cont ent=Sync&utm_campaign=Sync%2BBlog%2BAnnouncement%2 B012413">project</a>, which is still in its pre-Alpha testing stage, aims to directly synchronize content without relying on cloud caching, accordingto details <a href="http://gigaom.com/2013/01/24/bittorrent-sync-app/">posted</a> by <em>GigaOM</em>. <br /><br />A screenshot of the SyncApp utility demonstrates how multiple video files could be simultaneously uploaded and downloaded between devices. An app icon shows a computer and a mobile phone, though the company has only detailed plans to offer native apps for Mac, Windows and Linux.

The service takes a different approach than existing alternatives, such as DropBox, which rely on remote servers to store content in the cloud. As such, the traditional monetization strategy centers around a fee structure for upgraded storage capacities.

The SyncApp project is listed alongside several other "experiments" on BitTorrent's new Labs site. Other ideas under development include a live broadcast service for web streams, and a Surf utility for torrent discovery within Chrome.