Web Storage
(c) 2009 Puja Goyal
Magazine: Live IT
Month of Publication: July 2009
Tones (figuratively) of data are now waiting to be archived and stored online for reference in the future. The immediate market constitutes online storage where users can create and store data for easier access when they log on. It seems like a bombardment of various facilities provided like yahoo, and Gmail enabling email and documents storage. The previously disorganized market is now trying to systemize itself to bring about structure in data management. It also is using this opportunity to ensure that moving internet users find it easier to access information and direct the same to its clients.
There has been speculation on Google entering the market with “GOOGLE DRIVE” to provide virtual storage. Google is providing 5GB storage space with its free Google apps e- mail products, while other vendors are now starting with 25GB storage space for cash strapped individuals. Established companies and startups that can manage to pool in little finance, are trying to stake claim in the world of virtual storage. Manufacturers are trying to find cheaper outlets to ensure that they do not have to put a price on it and burden the internet user.
Established internet companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, are viewing online storage as the next big thing to offer to its customers. It will enable them to expand their offering, retain customers and, create huger impact on how their services are offered. They are aware that the more facilities they offer, the less likely you are to leave. The best attraction to something like this is that, if you have been a faithful customer of your Internet Company, and if you store a lot of data on their system, it will make it more difficult for you to switch to their competitor.
Models of Storage
Online storage companies focus on the following areas to provide solutions for storage:
• Backup/storage solutions (idrive, iomega, Symantec);
• File sharing solutions (driveway, myotherdrive); and
• Web services/storage solutions (shutterfly, flickr, google, msn).
These companies are also updating and adding more Web 2.0 features to create more collaborative solutions as they compete with each other. For example, Omnidrive, allows users to edit files directly online without having to download the file locally. I believe more features like these will be experimented upon, evolve, and modified in making the network more like a computer when combined with a local browser.
The Players
Today, there are many companies offering this space and luring users. Most of them let you try out their facilities for free for a limited amount of time until you become a paid regular customer. Moreover, they will let you try out only 1 to 25 GBs for free and then offer two or three other tiers with additional storage and features with minimum starting costs per month (idrive).
This is an attractive remedy for anyone starting out a new company and want to administer local backup solutions. Some of the services have higher-end features such as versioning, personal encryption keys and multiple user log-ins’.
The startups:
VCs and startups have seen an opportunity in online storage. Many newer companies like Box.net, ElephantDrive and Omnidrive have launched within the past few years with more innovative products than what was originally available in the marketplace.
Box.net claims itself as the first online file system, with more than 1.2 million users. It allows users to share, store and access files of any type from anywhere, as well as provides open API for developers.
ElephantDrive.com provides a desktop application for scheduling backup, restoring, uploading, downloading and sharing, as well as a drive mapping application for easy upload and download of your files.
Data Deposit Box offers online backup software that allows for an unlimited number of users and computers. While you're online, the software backs up your data automatically by watching your files and looking for changes. When it detects a change it extracts the file changes and compresses, encrypts and securely transfers them to the online storage.
MediaMax provides 25 GBs of free storage, as well as free backup and synchronization software. It gives you a private and secure place to upload, store, access and share your personal videos, photos, movies, music and files.
Omnidrive seems to be ahead of the pack. It goes beyond storage to full read and write of files online, making it easy for users to share files with other users in a collaborative manner.
IBackup, Mofile and Mozy are a few others that may be worth looking at.
The more established companies:
Amazon S3 Simple Storage Service is a web services interface made for developers that provides access to the Amazon data storage infrastructure.
AOL's Xdrive.com, started in 1999, was one of the pioneers in online web storage and was bought by AOL in 2005. It provides advanced features for backing up data and sharing files.
GoDaddy Online File Folder provides a sync tool that lets you automatically sync from multiple computers. You also can use FTP to push files to this storage facility and edit files online. Using WebDAV, you can view and edit online files as if they were in a network drive.
Iomega iStorage allows users to manage, store and share data online.
MicrosoftWindows Live SkyDrive offers basic online storage and sharing for Windows Live users.
Yahoo! Briefcase provides basic capabilities to add and share files as part of Yahoo!'s portal solution, although, Google is taking over now, with providing space for documents, photos, calendars, notes etc.
The Future
As the internet companies compete with each other, they will try to come up with more modifications and technological ventures to add to the ever innovating and growing Web 2.0 features. It also would make sense for PC manufacturers to partner with some of these companies and offer backup and storage services to anyone that considers buying a new PC. Today Microsoft is trying to combat Google with its ideas and hopefully would be able to provide solutions to the internet meltdown which is predicted in 2012.
All eyes are on Google today. With its sheer size and marketing power, Google could become a force to be reckoned with in the online storage arena. Online data storage and backup would also mean that there could be serious threat to hacking and thievery of data and companies which find online data storage as a solution would be a little cautious. Despite this, the opportunity online storage provides is that on the verge of a PC crash is immense; data is safely available and stored somewhere else for individuals to access. The problem: what if the Internet Company crashes; is hacked or its system manipulated?? I guess, all the data is gone, as they do not take any responsibility for the same. Also lookout for potential struggles over privacy issues, as well as copyright issues related to sharing data. Regardless, the idea of storing data online for small and medium size companies is promising; if they are able to handle and use the storage facilities with care and are able to provide themselves adequate backup.
Magazine: Live IT
Month of Publication: July 2009
Tones (figuratively) of data are now waiting to be archived and stored online for reference in the future. The immediate market constitutes online storage where users can create and store data for easier access when they log on. It seems like a bombardment of various facilities provided like yahoo, and Gmail enabling email and documents storage. The previously disorganized market is now trying to systemize itself to bring about structure in data management. It also is using this opportunity to ensure that moving internet users find it easier to access information and direct the same to its clients.
There has been speculation on Google entering the market with “GOOGLE DRIVE” to provide virtual storage. Google is providing 5GB storage space with its free Google apps e- mail products, while other vendors are now starting with 25GB storage space for cash strapped individuals. Established companies and startups that can manage to pool in little finance, are trying to stake claim in the world of virtual storage. Manufacturers are trying to find cheaper outlets to ensure that they do not have to put a price on it and burden the internet user.
Established internet companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, are viewing online storage as the next big thing to offer to its customers. It will enable them to expand their offering, retain customers and, create huger impact on how their services are offered. They are aware that the more facilities they offer, the less likely you are to leave. The best attraction to something like this is that, if you have been a faithful customer of your Internet Company, and if you store a lot of data on their system, it will make it more difficult for you to switch to their competitor.
Models of Storage
Online storage companies focus on the following areas to provide solutions for storage:
• Backup/storage solutions (idrive, iomega, Symantec);
• File sharing solutions (driveway, myotherdrive); and
• Web services/storage solutions (shutterfly, flickr, google, msn).
These companies are also updating and adding more Web 2.0 features to create more collaborative solutions as they compete with each other. For example, Omnidrive, allows users to edit files directly online without having to download the file locally. I believe more features like these will be experimented upon, evolve, and modified in making the network more like a computer when combined with a local browser.
The Players
Today, there are many companies offering this space and luring users. Most of them let you try out their facilities for free for a limited amount of time until you become a paid regular customer. Moreover, they will let you try out only 1 to 25 GBs for free and then offer two or three other tiers with additional storage and features with minimum starting costs per month (idrive).
This is an attractive remedy for anyone starting out a new company and want to administer local backup solutions. Some of the services have higher-end features such as versioning, personal encryption keys and multiple user log-ins’.
The startups:
VCs and startups have seen an opportunity in online storage. Many newer companies like Box.net, ElephantDrive and Omnidrive have launched within the past few years with more innovative products than what was originally available in the marketplace.
Box.net claims itself as the first online file system, with more than 1.2 million users. It allows users to share, store and access files of any type from anywhere, as well as provides open API for developers.
ElephantDrive.com provides a desktop application for scheduling backup, restoring, uploading, downloading and sharing, as well as a drive mapping application for easy upload and download of your files.
Data Deposit Box offers online backup software that allows for an unlimited number of users and computers. While you're online, the software backs up your data automatically by watching your files and looking for changes. When it detects a change it extracts the file changes and compresses, encrypts and securely transfers them to the online storage.
MediaMax provides 25 GBs of free storage, as well as free backup and synchronization software. It gives you a private and secure place to upload, store, access and share your personal videos, photos, movies, music and files.
Omnidrive seems to be ahead of the pack. It goes beyond storage to full read and write of files online, making it easy for users to share files with other users in a collaborative manner.
IBackup, Mofile and Mozy are a few others that may be worth looking at.
The more established companies:
Amazon S3 Simple Storage Service is a web services interface made for developers that provides access to the Amazon data storage infrastructure.
AOL's Xdrive.com, started in 1999, was one of the pioneers in online web storage and was bought by AOL in 2005. It provides advanced features for backing up data and sharing files.
GoDaddy Online File Folder provides a sync tool that lets you automatically sync from multiple computers. You also can use FTP to push files to this storage facility and edit files online. Using WebDAV, you can view and edit online files as if they were in a network drive.
Iomega iStorage allows users to manage, store and share data online.
MicrosoftWindows Live SkyDrive offers basic online storage and sharing for Windows Live users.
Yahoo! Briefcase provides basic capabilities to add and share files as part of Yahoo!'s portal solution, although, Google is taking over now, with providing space for documents, photos, calendars, notes etc.
The Future
As the internet companies compete with each other, they will try to come up with more modifications and technological ventures to add to the ever innovating and growing Web 2.0 features. It also would make sense for PC manufacturers to partner with some of these companies and offer backup and storage services to anyone that considers buying a new PC. Today Microsoft is trying to combat Google with its ideas and hopefully would be able to provide solutions to the internet meltdown which is predicted in 2012.
All eyes are on Google today. With its sheer size and marketing power, Google could become a force to be reckoned with in the online storage arena. Online data storage and backup would also mean that there could be serious threat to hacking and thievery of data and companies which find online data storage as a solution would be a little cautious. Despite this, the opportunity online storage provides is that on the verge of a PC crash is immense; data is safely available and stored somewhere else for individuals to access. The problem: what if the Internet Company crashes; is hacked or its system manipulated?? I guess, all the data is gone, as they do not take any responsibility for the same. Also lookout for potential struggles over privacy issues, as well as copyright issues related to sharing data. Regardless, the idea of storing data online for small and medium size companies is promising; if they are able to handle and use the storage facilities with care and are able to provide themselves adequate backup.
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