LimeWire is the only original P2P development company that remains in business in the United States or North America. As a free P2P application, it has survived WinMX, BearShare, a myriad of BitTorrent indexers and trackers, Kazaa, iMesh and many others. Additionally, it has maintained its open source nature and regularly publishes new software updates - a fact virtually unheard of in the United States.

BitTorrent, Inc. is the exception to this rule. Unlike its file-sharing brethren, BitTorrent has managed to survive in rather hostile environment, thanks largely to its understanding with the MPAA. LimeWire hasn't managed to reap this benefit, perhaps because it's still primarily used as an MP3 and music trading tool. BitTorrent is also used for music sharing, however its overwhelming usage is geared towards large movie files - something the MPAA sees value in.

Currently, LimeWire is entangled in a legal dispute with the companies represented by the RIAA. Converse to the MPAA, the RIAA isn't particularly impressed with LimeWire as a distribution mechanism for their wares. In fact, LimeWire received a "cease and desist" notice back in September of 2005, which ordered the company to halt the facilitation of copyright infringement. Unlike many others that felt the RIAA's wrath, LimeWire had one advantage: money. With deep pockets and a community that viewed the company in a favorable light, LimeWire has managed to prosper when most have been snuffed out.

There's nothing wrong with a good fight, but even two powerhouses like LimeWire and the RIAA can grow weary with time. It wouldn't be surprising if both organizations shared the common goal of ending an otherwise time consuming conflict. While LimeWire has no intentions of becoming a pay P2P network and abandoning its roots, and the RIAA has no intention of giving free P2P networking an endorsement, it's possible the two might meet somewhere in the middle. Perhaps with a music store, similar in nature to the BEN (BitTorrent Entertainment Network)?

On Monday, LimeWire launched its highly anticipated music store. Will you find the latest pop 40 hit? No. Will you find a catalog rivaling iTunes? Not at all. Will it have that funky new song your little sister likes to hear? Hopefully not. But what it will have is 256 kb/sec encoded MP3s, no DRM, and full interoperability with all your electronic gadgets. So if your MP3 player is a Palm Pilot, a Pocket PC, an iPod, or your Asus EEE PC, tracks purchased from LimeWire's store will work just fine.

There's a few notable departures to the typical MP3 music store. First, all the music is from independent artists. You won't find Sony's latest act here. Also, the pricing plan is more on par with the mentality of the online world. While there's the 99 cent, pay as you go option, there are other payment packages as well. If the end user decided to pay a monthly rate of about $20, he or she can then purchase 75 songs for 27 cents a download - much cheaper than what most expect of online music stores.

So what is to come of this? Eventually, the music store will be integrated into the LimeWire client. It's not known if LimeWire will expand their lineup to include mainstream acts, however LimeWire has maintained its commitment to providing a free service. It's questionable how this dichotomy will coexist, however many are hoping this P2P mess will be resolved by that time.