Xdrive was an online storage company based in the United States. Its key feature was a desktop client which integrated Windows Explorer with the user's Xdrive account. By default, the drive letter mapping was "X:". Early versions of the desktop client were based on WebDrive from South River Technologies. Xdrive was acquired by AOL on August 3, 2005 and provided as a service which allowed users to back up their files over the Internet. It offered a free 5 GB account (free online storage) to anyone with an AOL screenname.[1] Xdrive also provided remote backup services and 50GB of storage for a $9.95 per month fee.[1]
In July 2008, it was reported that AOL would sell or close Xdrive along with several other personal media properties.[2] The story was ultimately confirmed by sources within AOL who also asserted that affected users would be offered options for preserving their data.[3] AOL closed Xdrive on January 12, 2009.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Pogue, David (January 6, 2007). "Fewer excuses for not doing a PC backup". The New York Times. http://news.com.com/Fewer+excuses+for+not+doing+a+PC+backup/2100-1046_3-6147459.html?tag=nefd.lede. Retrieved 2007-01-06. Quote: "Online backups, where files are shuttled off to the Internet for safekeeping, are suddenly becoming effortless, capacious and even free."
- ^ Schonfeld, Eric (July 25, 2008). "Want to Buy Xdrive? AOL Is Trying To Sell It For $5 Million.". TechCrunch. http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/07/25/want-to-buy-xdrive-aol-is-trying-to-sell-it-for-5-million/.
- ^ Shankland, Stephen (July 25, 2008). "AOL to sell Xdrive, close photo and mobile sites". CNET. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-9999471-93.html.
- ^ "Xdrive storage site to close". Webuser (IPC Media Limited). January 5, 2009. http://www.webuser.co.uk/news/news.php?id=274634. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
