It's hard to develop a business model for something people don't necessarily want to pay for over the Internet. P2P is being touted as a solution to two issues within enterprises. Both uses would offer significant benefits to enterprises, yet several barriers must be overcome before either comes to fruition. The idea behind P2P isn't new. But today, the term goes farther to describe a network where each workstation has equal responsibilities and capabilities.
Users can find and download shared files directly from another individual's workstation.
Idle workstations on an enterprise's network could, in a P2P architecture, supplement existing processing power or storage devices. Begun in 1999, the program enlists PC owners connected to the Internet to process small chunks of radio telescope data, in hope of discovering transmissions from intelligent life on other planets. A more terrestrial example is Intel and its NetBatch solution to distributing processing time internally. Since 1990, NetBatch has used idle computing time at workstations throughout Intel to help manage intricate computer chip design. Individuals within an affinity group can generate their own information, such as a report or marketing brochure.