"There will be a shift from Personal Computing to Personal Information"

Paul Maritz, chief executive officer, PI Corporation, talks to AKHTAR PASHA about his firm’s Linux-based solution that will operate independently of personal devices and help folks access their personal information no matter where they are.

* You had personally managed key product development activities during your tenure as a senior VP at Microsoft. What made you start this venture that will develop Linux-based software?

The thought process behind Personal Information (PI) was to focus upon the shift in the way people interact with information. Today people have a unique relationship with their PCs…we want to break that limitation and engineer a shift from Personal Computing to Personal Information. We aim to use any technology or OS platform that will help us achieve this dream. Linux is a good environment for our technology. Our approach is to leverage cheap PCs and servers.

* Can you tell us about your solution? Is it limited to the Linux user community?

We plan to bring a software solution to market that helps users create, manage and share PI. This is not going to be limited to Linux users, however, Linux users will be able to use native versions of PI software.

* Would your solution run on special hardware or access devices?

Our initial targets are PCs and PC-based devices, but users will be able to interact with their PI from many browser-based, non-PC devices.

* Can you explain how a user will be able to access his files from a desktop at home and a notebook in the office? Where will the files be stored?

PI will provide a set of network-based services, including some that provide temporary and permanent information relay and storage facilities. Your information will be replicated on these services, and when requested it will be made available ensuring that data is available even if the user’s PC is offline. These services will be provided by a combination of peer-to-peer technologies and some PI infrastructure that will provide the right security.

* When can we expect to see the product?

We expect to release the technology for widespread user testing in 2005. We’ll decide the appropriate commercial schedule and pricing based on their feedback.

* Why did you take Aditi as a partner?

The Indian product development team currently has 10 people. We expect to double this number by end 2004. It represents our core development team that is responsible for a major portion of our product development. We are setting up a design and development centre, and will use Aditi’s infrastructure services before we build our core team. Aditi offered us a smooth start on the facilities and corporate logistics front and a great lead-in to talented candidates and the local management team, which is comparable to the best in the world. We are a product company, and we need access to software product development talent, not just developers who write code to specifications made elsewhere. We are glad that Aditi has built the environment to attract and nurture this talent.