BitTorrent Inc. Acquires µTorrent
http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2006/12/bittorrent_inc_.htmlTopic: software
UtorrentlogoBitTorrent, Inc., will announce later today that it has acquired µTorrent, a lightweight and efficient implementation of the BitTorrent protocol. The official announcement will come this afternoon, but there are already some posts from Bram Cohen, CEO and Co-Founder of BitTorrent, in the µTorrent Forums.
BitTorrent has acquired µTorrent as it recognized the merits of µTorrent’s exceptionally well-written codebase and robust user community. Bringing together µTorrent’s efficient implementation and compelling UI with BitTorrent’s expertise in networking protocols will significantly benefit the community with what we envision will be the best BitTorrent client.
We gave µTorrent high marks back in our review of Bittorrent clients for being lightweight and efficient. According to posts in the µTorrent forums, the new deal means, among other things, versions of µTorrent for Mac and Linux, although no timetable has been announced.
In a press release to be released later today, Cohen says, “Ludvig Strigeus, the developer of µTorrent, clearly put a significant amount of time into optimizing the client.” Cohen went on to say, “BitTorrent recognizes µTorrent’s exceptionally well-written codebase and robust user community.” The acquisition FAQ in the µTorrent forums claims that “bringing together BitTorrent expertise with µTorrent’s elegance creates… what will be the best BitTorrent client hands-down.”
For the time being the µTorrent client and website will remain and the client will continue to be freely available for download. The acquisition FAQ’s go on to note that the µTorrent code base will remain closed source.
The merger means that many of BitTorrent Inc’s patented delivery innovations will be rolled into the µTorrent client. While that’s nice for users, the real reason for the deal may be that BitTorrent Inc, which just inked some deals with Hollywood, needs a lightweight codebase for potential mobile, television and other, non-PC markets.
In a Wired Interview earlier this week, Cohen said, “We’re working on making BitTorrent come preinstalled on many embedded devices, as one of the basic services they support in the same class as web browsers.”
With the newly acquired lightweight µTorrent client, could BitTorrent-powered movie downloads be headed for a mobile device near you?
We contacted BitTorrent Inc. about the acquisition, but they declined to comment directly.
