File Hosting - A BitTorrent Replacement?

OK, I think we all agree that BitTorrent is an excellent way to download files as it offers stunning speed and almost 100 percent stability. However, the users are always looking for better technology, no matter how good and popular a product is. Following the recent reports concerning limitations and restrictions applied for the BitTorrent downloads, the users started looking for alternative solutions that could allow them to share files in a matter of seconds. This is how the popularity of the file hosting services was increased in a very short period, lots of users turning to them in order to share small files to other Internet consumers.

In case you have never used them, the file hosting services are actually some websites allowing you to upload files and store them on their servers. After the upload process is completed, you'll get a download link which should be used every time somebody wants to take the file. According to the research conducted by Ipoque, RapidShare and MegaUpload are among the most employed file hosting services on the web.

"Although file hosts are only used by a relatively small number of Internet users, they are responsible for between four and nine percent of all Internet traffic," it is mentioned in the report powered by Ipoque.

"Many of the examined applications have been subject to controversial discussions about copyright infringements and network congestion. Furthermore, net neutrality along with possible charges for particularly data-intensive services have been in the focus of public attention."

At the moment, the file hosting services are used by only a few Internet users but their popularity is continuously increasing since they are available for free and represent a simple solution to share small files to other consumers. Moreover, I saw lots of users attempting to split large files into smaller pieces in order to upload them on file hosting services. Sure, this will bring numerous download links but at least it's a way to share files for free.