AOL Developing File-Backup Service

KingFish (KingFish) America Online is developing a new service that will let its members back up files from their PCs onto AOL data centers, so members can recover files either deleted accidentally or lost due to a hard-drive failure, an AOL executive says.

November 20, 2004 10:43 AM ET in News,

America Online is developing a new service that will let its members back up files from their PCs onto AOL data centers, so members can recover files either deleted accidentally or lost due to a hard-drive failure, an AOL executive says.

“The concept is for users to very easily, either automatically or with one click, back up files from their hard drives to the AOL data centers,” says Kerry Parkins, director of product marketing at AOL.

The backup feature is an interesting one to add to the AOL online service, but its adoption will depend heavily on AOL’s making a case to members about its benefits, since PC users in general aren’t in the habit of backing up their hard-drive data, says David Card, a Jupiter Research analyst.

The file backup will be a premium service with tiered monthly pricing based on storage levels: $3 for 100MB, $5 for 250MB, or $10 for 1GB, on top of the monthly AOL fee, according to information gathered from an AOL brochure and from AOL’s online service, where the service is currently being beta-tested. Members can access it by typing keyword: File Backup.

Files stored at the AOL data centers will be encrypted, and access to them will be controlled via a password and an answer to a security question set up by the user, according to the AOL information. Users will determine when and how frequently AOL performs the automated backups; users need only to make sure that their computers are turned on and connected to the Internet at the scheduled backup times, according to the AOL information.

wow, seems like such a great deal when you take into account the sky-high prices of cd-r’s nowadays [/sarcasm] -KF

Source: PC World

13 Comments:

  1. Camman
    21 Nov '04, 4:29 am
    Quoting KingFish

    wow, seems like such a great deal when you take into account the sky-high prices of cd-r's nowadays [/sarcasm] -KF

    Yeah, and lets see I just bought a combo box of 4 DVD+R and 1 DVD+RW for like $12, and that's on the expensive side, you can get it alot cheaper in spindles or in larger quantities, so let me do the math here

    4.7gb x 5 = 23.5gb of storage for $12...for as long as the DVDs are good

    or $10/month for 1gb

    hmmmm, AOL has such good ideas, 'it's no wonder they're number 1!'

  2. kanezfan
    21 Nov '04, 4:36 am

    i'd say something about google's email storage and how it's free, but let's face it, we're talking about AOL'ers here, I'm sure they'll but this in droves. stupid noobs...

  3. Thrax
    21 Nov '04, 4:52 am

    ho mai godz but teh dvdz aren't 1 click backup lolol ;[

    /me sighs, knowing full well that this sham of a service will succeed

  4. KingFish
    21 Nov '04, 5:15 am
    Quoting Thrax

    /me sighs, knowing full well that this sham of a service will succeed

    Yup, the bad thing about it is that it probably will.

  5. KingFish
    21 Nov '04, 5:16 am

    lol at the above post
    note: I didn't change it to my name in Thrax's quote. I suppose it picked up the bbcode as me instead of Thrax.

    KF

  6. profdlp
    21 Nov '04, 6:28 am

    It will save them the trouble of re-downloading their spyware and viruses when their computers inevitably succumb to them.

  7. Geeky1
    21 Nov '04, 7:16 am
    Quoting KingFish

    Yup, the bad thing about it is that it probably will.

    I'm not sure that's necessarily a bad thing... I mean if you're stupid enough to pay for it, you kinda deserve what you get. Personally, I think the guy that came up with this should be given a medal or something... there's nothing wrong with taking advantage of peoples' stupidity to make some money.

  8. Thrax
    21 Nov '04, 7:37 am

    But there's everything wrong with that model going to AOL's benefit.

  9. profdlp
    21 Nov '04, 7:47 am
    Quoting Thrax

    But there's everything wrong with that model going to AOL's benefit.

    You know what? I think it may be a sign of desperation.

    AOL has lots of users, but many of them don't get beyond their free trial. I think it may be that they are trying to make a few bucks any way they can, since they are not doing it with their Internet service.

  10. Thrax
    21 Nov '04, 12:18 pm

    A good theory, prof. AOL could be losing members for a lot of reasons:

    Americans are gullible when it comes to technology (Why do you think the MX400 sold so well? ) -- the advent of cheaper net-zero-like solutions are probably peeling people away.

    Though Americans are gullible, I'd like to think the general level of technology is increasing as more advanced computers penetrate the common market -- the advent of crackerjack broadband is probably also peeling people away.

    Word of mouth? AOL has a ****ty reputation when it comes to word of mouth. People always have their person who they go to for advice because "They know so much about computers!" -- Those people usually hate AOL, and tell their more ignorant friends to run away from it.

    And come on, AOL just sux lololool.

  11. drasnor
    22 Nov '04, 3:45 am

    I have serious doubts about anyone who would trust AOL with their data. I wouldn't trust them with a roll of pennies.

    On a side note, Thrax: can I steal your Steam sig? It's totally awesome!

    -drasnor

  12. Thrax
    22 Nov '04, 3:58 am

    Knock yourself out.

  13. danball1976
    22 Nov '04, 4:21 am

    Yeah, usually the people using AOL don't know that there is better stuff out there, and that most of it is free.

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