Review of Box.Net Online Collaboration Service

Company Details

Since 2005, founders Aaron Levie and Dylan Smith as well as their ever expanding team have established Box.net as one of the most hot and trusty internet services for storing and sharing data from anywhere. Today, at least 2,000,000 people, small businesses, and large companies from all over the world use Box.Net to quickly connect with the files and people that matter most. Box.net is based in Palo Alto, California.

Security

Box.Net provides 256bit encryption on files whilst being transferred back and forth to it's serviers. Box.Net host their servers at multiple high-grade data centers with current audits, round-the-clock monitoring and video surveillance, on-site security staff, mantraps, and strict operation controls. All power and environmental systems are in an N+1 redundant design to ensure fault tolerance. Multiple power feeds, UPS devices, and onsite blackout generators insure endless functioning and robust infrastructure. Information is automatically backed up to a geographically distant location. This ensures that they always have multiple copies of your information.

Backup Abilities

Box.net is not a backup solution, notwithstanding, you can maintain 5 separate versions of files if you have the Individual account or 10 versions if you have the business account.

Restore Features

Not counting the file versioning detailed above, there is no restore functionality.

Control and Analysis

This is a web-based service with nothing to install on client devices, therefore CPU and bandwidth throttling will not apply.
Logging and Reporting are available but only in the Enterprise edition.

Interface

The interface is beautifully polished and offers easy uploading and collaboration of files and folders via the web portal. The Business and Enterprise editions offer an Admin Portal and the ability to manage multiple accounts.

Device Support

If your device can get to the web, then you can use Box.Net.

Limitations

• The Lite and Individual editions cannot be used commercially.


• The Lite version has an single file size limit of 25 Megabytes while the rest of the versions have a 1 Gigabyte file size limit


• There is nevertheless, no limit on the amount of data you can upload or download.


• File retention for erased files is 30 days which is the industry standard.

File Sharing and Collaboration

On all editions, you can invite others to work via email and you can import your email contacts via comma-delimited files or directly if you have an Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail Account.

• Uploaded files can be saved in folders or directly in your home page. Once you have a folder you can:
  
  • Ask collaborators to share the information in the folder.
  
  
  • Attach to the folder
  
  
  • Share the folder
  
  
  • Embed the folder in a website
  
  
  • Add comments and tags
  
  
  • Assign a description for the folder
  
  
  • Monitor activity in this folder via email notifications
  
  
  • Set the access level for the folder:
    
    • Private, Collaboration, or Global
    
    
    • If sharing globally, you can assign a Vanity name to the folder
  
  
  • One more nifty characteristic is the ability to set an expiry date on the folder share.

Synchronization

There is no file or folder synchronization.

Web 2.0 Integration

This is where Box.net shines most bright! Box.net uses the OpenBox standard which means it is totally compatible with an ever growing amount of Web 2.0 applications. Everything from iPhone apps to Online Office apps suchas Zoho and EditGrid to eFaxing via eFax to managing CRM with SalesForce and all your chosen Social Networking sites. You can even include Google Analytics to your account so you can find out how people are accessing your files.

Customer Support

• Phone support is available but not on a toll-free number and only in business hours.


• Email Support is accessable via a webform on the contact page.


• Non-interactive support is good: There is a reasonable FAQ section; a Knowledgebase; a forum and a blog. A demo and case studies are also provided.


• A free trial is available for the Business edition.


• We found the support staff to be friendly, well informed and keen to help in any way they could.

Usability

Box.Net is very comfortable. Once you have uploaded or created some content then you really start to see how easy it is to use. Collaboration is really simple and it becomes a effortless to work online with others when you have a easy to use, streamlined and clear environment to work in.

Cost

• Box.Net offers 4 packages as shown below:
  
  • Lite: free for individuals
  
  
  • Individual - $9.99 / month
  
  
  • Business - $15 / month
  
  
  • Enterprise - Price on application


• Initial setup on all packages is free


• There are no options for additional storage.


• There are no limits to the amount of devices that can be used with the service


• Initial allowed storage space:
  
  • Lite: 1Gb
  
  
  • Individual: 5Gb
  
  
  • Business: 10Gb / individual
  
  
  • Enterprise: no limit

Conclusion

If you are looking for an online backup solution then this is NOT the package for you. If you are looking for a really logical,effortless and simple to manage internet collaboration product then you're in the right place. The ability to creaet email notifications when changes are made in one of your project folders is a particularly useful touch.
Box.Net is the best online collaboration tool we have reviewed so far.