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Microsoft is making a P2P client codenamed Avalanche. Better Known as Microsoft Secure Content Downloader (MSCD). It is a free P2P technology similar to what BitTorent already provides.

According the information given on the MSCD webpage

The Microsoft Secure Content Downloader (MSCD) is a peer-assisted download manager capable of securely downloading specific files. MSCD is intended for consumers who are downloading from a home PC, or business users whose computers are not behind a corporate firewall. If you use MSCD from behind a corporate firewall, you may be unable to download content, and may adversely affect other clients’ ability to download content.

Some MSCD clients may be connected to each other via peer connections, forming a ‘cloud’ of clients. Pieces of the file you are downloading are sent through these peer connections between clients, as well as through connections with the file server. As a member of the cloud, your computer both serves as a client and server to other members of the cloud. Data destined for the cloud may be routed through your computer and sent to other cloud members. The other cloud members connected to you will be able to access only pieces of the file you are downloading via MSCD – they have no access to any other data on your computer.

This is only a Community Technology Preview and will expire in August. To optimize performance, make sure you enable UPnP on your router and Teredo on your computer (can be enabled by typing netsh int ipv6 set ter cli at the command prompt)

Also currently, the downloads are limited to Microsoft Visual Studio and MSDN Library Beta. Supported Operating systems are Windows XP and Windows Vista.

Download Microsoft Secure Content Downloader here