A Stash image, from a post in the beta section of the Mozy website
(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Cloud storage provider Mozy announced on Wednesday that it has launched the beta version of a tool called Stash, an extension of its existing MozyHome online backup service.
According to the Stash page on the Mozy website, Stash keeps files up to date on each of the computers a user connects to the system, automatically updating when the computer is connected. Away from their computer, users can access the files in their Stash through an iOS or Android app.
In other words, it does most of what DropBbx does, or rather, it adds much of what Dropbox does to what Mozy already did, which was much more focused on backing up systems.
“Mozy has always protected its customers’ data against catastrophic loss,” said Russ Stockdale, general manager of Mozy, quoted in the press release. “With Stash, Mozy customers will see a huge increase in the value they get from protecting their data with Mozy. Stash makes it easy to move from your computer at the office to your computer at home, without having to email files to yourself or mess around with USB drives.”
Stash is still shy a few of Dropbox’s features, such as the ability to share a folder with another user, however some reports quote the company as saying that feature is likely to arrive within the year.
What Mozy has that Dropbox does not is a track record of working with reseller partners, including hosting providers, to distribute its services. Within the last several weeks, unified communications firm Alteva reported that it had formed a resller deal for the MozyPro software.
Mozy has other connections to the hosting market. The company is owned by VMware, which confusingly acquired Mozy in 2011 from EMC, which also owns VMware. Few companies have more penetration into the hosting market, or are more accustomed to dealing with the hosting channel, than VMware. The pedigree could mean further opportunities for hosting providers with Mozy tools, and Stash could turn out to be the means for hosts to offer a Dropbox-like service to their customers.
Mozy says users with MozyHome accounts will automatically have access to Stash. Those who don’t but want to try the service, can sign up for the free 2GB MozyHome account.
About Liam Eagle
Liam Eagle has worked as a contributor to the Web Host Industry Review since its inception in 2000, and as editor since 2003. He has been editor of the WHIR's print magazine since its launch. His daily involvement in the gathering and reporting of Web hosting news and his regular interaction with Web hosting leaders gives him an uncommonly broad appreciation of the issues and tends facing the business. Through his WHIR blog, Liam spots Web hosting trends and offers opinions on the industry-wide impacts of major developments and the motivation behind big announcements. Follow him on Twitter @liameagle
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