New Capabilities for Verizon Online Backup and Sharing

Consumers and businesses have a new-and-improved, easy-to-use tool for preserving vital data files or irreplaceable family photos and videos. The Verizon Online Backup and Sharing service now has a drag-and-drop sharing feature right from the user’s computer, as well as an easier, automated storage mechanism to help prevent loss of crucial data and photo files.

The new capabilities of Verizon Online Backup and Sharing help broadband users to quickly set up online storage, easily store files from their personal computers, and conveniently share documents or photos with friends, family or business associates.

"If you’ve watched your PC hard drive crash, been exposed to a file-eating virus or accidentally deleted that one-of-a-kind document or photo, then you’re familiar with that cold knot that’s left in the pit of your stomach," said Peter Castleton, Verizon executive director for corporate marketing. "The Verizon Online Backup and Sharing tool helps to inoculate broadband users against this lost-file affliction."

In addition to providing easy access to stored files from any PC with a broadband Internet connection, Verizon Online Backup and Sharing allows users to set up customized lists of people who can access folders, and even tracks who has access to the folder. Standard online sharing features include ‘read only’ access or, for collaborating, ‘read and upload’ privileges.

The service also now includes thumbnail views of stored files so that users can quickly review photo files and find the photo they are searching for without having to open each file.

While the drag-and-drop feature makes for easy ‘right click’ and sharing of files, the backup tool allows for manual or automatic ‘scheduled’ backups of computer files to help ensure that precious documents or photos are saved.

"Security experts advise individuals and businesses to make multiple copies of vital files," Castleton said, "with one of those copies stored off-site in the event of a fire or some other disaster.  Online Backup and Sharing provides off-site storage for these files." "But, if you wait until the unthinkable happens and you’ve lost those irreplaceable files, all the warnings and advice aren’t going to be much help," he said.

The Verizon Online service offers several online storage sizes up to 50 GB (gigabytes). A single monthly subscription charge, which varies based on storage size, covers all the computers in a household or business. Consumers can save by bundling Verizon Online Backup and Sharing with the Verizon Internet Security Suite.