Online Storage Service

Online storage is a service like internet disk. (See File Hosting Service on wiki)
Imagine how to use it. There are a lot of possibilities. I can put up some files I downloaded in my home and use them in my office. Such that it may replace some functions of pen drives and portable storages. Besides, sometimes I use the pen drive to copy/share file with others. And you can find the share function on these online storage service. Moreover, you can manage how to share it by accounts, or share them in private or public. With the aid of the service provider developed os dependent application, users can use the service move convenient. Drag-and-Drop files as using another local drive.

To know it further, I find a review on online services. The review lists the general features of these service. They are: Remote Access, Mobile Access, Private File Sharing, Public File Sharing, Scheduled Backup, File Search, Drag-and-Drop, Sub-Accounts, Offers Free Account, Security, Storage Space/Price per Month, and Technical Help/Support. One day, all these features may become user-expected on any online storage service.

Some services gives distinctive features. Users can edit/preview Microsoft Office documents on Box.net. But Wuala impresses me the most. There is a peer-too-peer feature. It claims users would experience faster download speed by it. And the disk space trade feature which allow a user to gain more online space when he devote some of his free disk space is interesting, too. I wonder if it make Wuala need less capital to run the service than other services in similar scale. And frankly speaking, I would like it more for its larger (potential) free space.

Another fact about Wuala, LaCie is going to merge Wuala. I think it will not take too long to see some LaCie products integrating Wuala. That make LaCie could provides Remote access/Remote backup features easily. These features are easier to see in the NAS market today. I guess the merge may give some incentive to the online storage users to buy a LaCie's Wuala integrated products.