Intel: Napster, Linux inspires us
Source: ZDNet
LONDON--U.S. chipmaker Intel said Tuesday that it has been inspired by song-swapping Internet service Napster and free operating system Linux to overhaul some of its technology infrastructure.
Despite Napster's short-lived success--it has been idle since July after stumbling over legal and technical issues--the company's technology helped Intel to limit expensive network bills, Intel IT Vice President Doug Busch said.
Often, the semiconductor heavyweight needs to send large multimedia computer files, which contain information such as manuals or video messages, to its employees across the globe. But Intel simply cannot afford to send all these files from its California headquarters over the Internet and run up huge telecom bills, Busch said.
About 18 months ago, Intel began to develop its own software that--like Napster's--would allow employees to download certain files from each other's computers.
