The evolution of file-swapping networks

"The release of Morpheus'' software, along with eDonkey's rise, marks the ascent of a third generation of peer-to-peer networking technology. Each successive generation has decentralized more functions, making the networks harder to shut down and helping to expand the power of searches... their technology will take just three or four hops to find any file, no matter how rare, on a network of up to millions of computers. This kind of technology also holds promise for the newer applications such as Net calling. Neonet and eDonkey each are focused on file swapping, but the same efficient network routing could be used to connect calls quickly, even among computers that are constantly popping on and off the Net, they say." ("Super-powered peer to peer" - CNET News.com)