Intel peers into the future

The future of computing lies in peer-to-peer technology, according to a senior Intel figure. Speaking at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF), Intel's chief technology officer Pat Gelsinger outlined his vision of "self-organising webs," in which users share computing resources - such as storage and processing power - to work towards common goals. He also announced the formation of a peer-to-peer working group of 18 companies, chaired by Intel, and including IBM and Hewlett-Packard, to develop standards in this field. ...more

Conference calling comes to Skype P2P service

Today sees Skype claiming the accolade of the world's first IP-based conference-call service using peer-to-peer technology. Skype users can now set up conference calls with up to five users regardless of geography. The free IP telephony service is barely off the starting blocks but has already garnered much interest, not least because it's the next big project of the founding fathers of KaZaA: Niklas Zennstr?m and Janus Friis. ...more

Freedom2Surf backs Easynet's service for high-speed broadband

Freedom2Surf has announced that it is to begin using Easynet's LLU service to deliver broadband in the UK. F2S is first major ISP to confirm that it has signed up to LLUStream, which is ahead of BT Wholesale in the provision of 8Mbps maximum-speed ADSL connections, The fact that Easynet is also in advanced testing of ADSL2+ services up to 24Mbps will doubtlessly have been an added attraction. Easynet claims its service offers ISPs a saving of around 30 per cent compared to BT Wholesale's prices. ...more

Robotic heart by-pass

London surgeons are to perform the first heart by-pass in the UK using tiny robots. At St Mary's in Paddington, the new virtual surgery simulators have been installed and specialist surgeons are being trained in how to use the new equipment. The system consists of two parts, the base station where the surgeon controls the robot using a monitor and the actual robot, which features three arms. ...more

Verizon sues Vonage over VoIP

You know that a technology is about to take off in a big way when the patent lawsuits start to fly. So it is with VoIP. Vonage Holdings has admitted that it has been served with a patent infringement lawsuit, along with its wholly owned subsidiary, Vonage America, filed by Verizon Services and Verizon Laboratories relating to VoIP technologies. ...more