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S+M Vs. SPDY: Microsoft and Google Battle Over HTTP 2.0

Posted by Soulskill on from the two-will-enter-one-will-maybe-eventually-leave dept.

MrSeb writes "HTTP, the protocol that underpins almost every inch of the world wide web, is about to make the jump from version 1.1 to 2.0 after some 13 years of stagnation. For a long time it looked like Google's experimental SPDY protocol would be the only viable option for the Internet Engineering Task Force to ratify as HTTP 2.0, but now out of left field comes a competing proposal from Microsoft. Lumbered with the truly awful name of HTTP Speed+Mobility, or HTTP S+M for short, Microsoft's vision of HTTP 2.0 is mostly very similar to SPDY, but with additional features that cater toward apps and mobile devices. 'The HTTP Speed+Mobility proposal starts from both the Google SPDY protocol and the work the industry has done around WebSockets,' says Jean Paoli from the Microsoft Interoperability team. Basically, the S+M proposal looks like it's less brute-force than SPDY: Where server push, encryption, and compression are all built into SPDY, Microsoft, citing low-powered devices and metered connections, wants them to be optional extensions. Judging by the speed at which the internet (and the internet of things) is developing, I think MS's extensible, flexible solution has its merits."

17 of 180 comments (clear)

  1. Oh god... by Theophany · · Score: 5, Funny

    S&M - really??

    1. Re:Oh god... by Kangburra · · Score: 5, Funny

      Going to make for some great domain names! :)

      --
      Common sense is not so common
    2. Re:Oh god... by andrew3 · · Score: 5, Funny

      If they used HTTP mobility+speed it would be HTTP MS. But I suppose S&M makes things a whole lot more exciting. Dirty bastards. ;)

    3. Re:Oh god... by Theophany · · Score: 5, Funny

      Perhaps it is a little homage to the industry that has made the Internet so successful ;)

    4. Re:Oh god... by homsar · · Score: 3, Funny

      Microsoft can really be blind about how their product names can be interpreted. This is, after all, the company who brought us Wince (well, WinCE)...

    5. Re:Oh god... by Chrisq · · Score: 4, Funny

      Going to make for some great domain names! :)

      And some interesting work time search results. Imagine:

      S+M maximum speed
      S+M large payload
      S+M security accessories

    6. Re:Oh god... by justforgetme · · Score: 5, Funny

      Not to forget the job market:

      "Wanted senior S&M specialist with python experience and high availability background"

      --
      -- no sig today
    7. Re:Oh god... by archen · · Score: 3, Funny

      On the bright side it may be possible for some people to actually have 5 years experience when this first comes out, just as recruiters demand.

    8. Re:Oh god... by gbjbaanb · · Score: 4, Funny

      I guess its a role where you'll be chained to your desk.

  2. Re:Sigh. Microsoft copies Google yet again. by DrXym · · Score: 3, Funny

    People discount Microsoft because they fail to realise that Microsoft is relentless. It's like waves of zombies. You might fight off the first wave and become a bit arrogant but before you know they're back and attacking in large numbers. Before you know it your defences are overrun, your bullets have been spent and they're eating your brains.

  3. Re:Really? by crutchy · · Score: 4, Funny

    how about "microsoft bing live office workgroup server 2012", or affectionately "microsoft blows"

  4. Summary oversimplifies the proposal by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft proposes HTTP 2.0 come in the following varieties:

    HTTP Speed+Mobility Starter Edition
    HTTP Speed+Mobility Professional
    HTTP Speed+Mobility Enterprise
    HTTP Speed+Mobility Ultimate

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  5. From the people... by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...who brought you the Critical Update Notification Tool!

  6. Re:Microsoft ? Proprietary IP ? by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's not a ballgag, it's a rights-management appliance.

  7. Re:Optional extensions? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hence a very long time.

  8. Re:Microsoft ? Proprietary IP ? by dkleinsc · · Score: 3, Funny

    What's the difference?

    Oh, right, if you say the safe word, your partner will remove the ballgag.

    --
    I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
  9. Re:Microsoft ? Proprietary IP ? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Does the M$ package comes with proprietary IP?

    That'd be a golden shower, not S&M