iMesh is rolling out its legit P2P service into Canada. As previously reported, iMesh is one of the companies piloting the use of 'tracking software' on P2P that in theory allows them to keep a record of what music from what record labels is shared, with the intention of then passing on a share of revenues to those labels. Although this is still something of a grey area, iMesh's attempts to establish a network that utilises the strengths of P2P while reimbursing content owners has got the support of most the major labels and a lot of independents.
The version of iMesh that essentially pilots this system went live in the US back in October last year, and will now be available in Canada. Confirming that move, the company's chief, Robert Summer, told reporters: "We are pleased to extend our authorized service to Canada in an effort to further provide consumers with the most compelling commercial P2P experience available today".
The move into Canada coincides with an announcement of a partnership between iMesh and digital music provider MusicNet, the people who provide the digital music libraries for a number of download platforms, including those run by HMV and Virgin. The specifics of the new deal aren't clear, though it seems that when iMesh users download a track in the MusicNet catalogue from another P2P user, they will be prompted to the fact that they can buy the track for themselves via a MusicNet powered download service. iMesh are also likely to offer a Napster style subscription service, which would give paying iMesh subscribers access to the whole MusicNet catalogue in much the same vein as HMV and Virgin's subscription packages.
iMesh do seem to be stealing some ground in the legit P2P domain, though it is early days and competitors like Mashboxx may as yet become dominant players. The bigger question remains, is there a place for legit P2P in the market at all? iMesh and Mashboxx will be hoping that a combination of ongoing legal threats and the frustration of spyware infected non-legit P2P networks will persuade existing file sharers onto their legit platforms, even if that requires the payment of a monthly fee.
However, attempts to make legit P2P platforms compelling are in danger of making them overly complicated with too many choices and options. If there's one thing Apple's iTunes has taught us - it's make it flipping simple. Too many complications and newer non-legit P2P software, or a more conventional subscription model like Napster's, might seem a more attractive proposition rather than iMesh et al. We'll see I guess.