Today, our friends at iPhone Atlas reported the debut of what they describe as the first “genuinely useful” native peer-to-peer application for the iPhone. The iSLsk iPhone application, which is capable of accessing the SoulSeek music sharing network, allows users to search the SoulSeek database, select files for download, and even queue transfers. The music is then automatically added to the iTunes library on the iPhone and is instantly playable.

SoulSeek was created by Nir Arbel, a former Napster programmer, and offers access to a vast peer-shared library of files, composed primarily of music. The network boasts hundreds of thousands of active users.

An application of this sort could have tremendous potential for the use of the iPhone as an educational tool. Imagine teachers and students having the ability to share instructional audio files with each other at the touch of a button both in and outside the classroom.

Installation of iSlsk requires a jailbroken iPhone. To install follow iPhone Atlas’ guide to third-party applications to jailbreak your iPhone and get it ready for applications, then make sure you have the “Big Boss” repository added to Installer.app. This source should be added automatically when you install the “Community Sources” package as described in the guide, but you can also manually add it by going to Installer.app and following these instructions: tap the “Sources,” button, then tap “Edit” in the upper-right corner, and finally “Add” in the upper-left corner. Enter the URL of the source you would like to add (thebigboss.org/repo.xml) and press “OK.” Installer.app will add the source, and you will be able to find the new application(s) in the normal “Install” menu.