Carbonite Company Information and Review

Carbonite has been keeping data safe for people like you and me with their Online File Backup service since 2005. An easy to use system makes backups a breeze, with the added capability to configure your backups if you wish.

You can also access your files for restore using the client application, or via a web browser. You can even use the web browser feature if you need remote access to a file or files that you have already backed up.

If you are looking for a good backup program with discounts for multi-year subscriptions, you found it. The Carbonite service is under $5 USD / Per month or $54.95 for 1 year. If you sign up for two years, your cost per month goes down (2 years, $99.95 USD and if you sign up for 3 years, the cost is $129.95 which comes out to around $3.60 USD a month. Start off with a 15 day free trial to see how easy it is.

Great service if you need: Online Secure data backup and remote file access made easy. Free trial is available and you can get multi-year discounts.

Information obtained from the company website, Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission, May 2009.

Website: Carbonite.com

Contact: customersupport@Carbonite.com

Company: Carbonite

Location: 334 Boylston St. Third Floor. Boston MA 02116

Telephone: 877-665-4466

Operating since: 2005

Summary: Carbonite offers online file backup service and remote file access of backed up files.

Details: Company has been doing this since 2005 and they do it well and that's in part due to a push to improve their Customer Service and delivery capabilities. They do offer a Free Trial so you can try it yourself. They leverage encryption well because they know how important what they are backing up is. Your data isn’t just data; it’s your life, so to speak. They know that and they protect it with encryption of your data, twice, on your PC before it even leaves your computer. Your data is already encrypted when it is copied to the Carbonite systems and it stays that way while it’s stored there. Your data is protected at all phases in the process. Though they handle the encryption keys, they also give you the option of managing the key for total privacy of data.

They offer one service plan with unlimited storage and file access, but three durations. 1 year for $54.95, 2 years for $99.95 and 3 years for 129.95.

Your data transfers will take place by using the client application that you install on your computer. You can also login from a website to access your files for restore purposes, or if you just need to access your files. Protecting your data with Carbonite is a great plan, because your data, like you, is irreplaceable and priceless.

Free Carbonite account available: Yes, for a 15 day free trial account.

Paid account available: Yes, One plan type with unlimited backup space and remote file access. They offer discounts on multiple year subscriptions. The basic plan is just $54.95 USD for a year. That works out to around $4.58 USD a month. The two year plan is $99.95 USD and around $4.16 USD a month, but the best value is the three year plan which is $129.95 and works out to around $3.60 USD a month.

Single file size limit: 4GB limit. If you have files over that size, restoring them onto a DVD might be difficult. If you are backup up a family video for example, that’s over 4 GB in size, you may want to split it into two or more parts using available file management tools so that it can be backed up.

Free Trial: Yes, 15 days with unlimited backup storage space.

Platforms supported: Client Application & Web browser based service. Windows XP 32-bit and 64-bit, Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit, and Intel based Mac OSX 10.4 (Tiger), Mac OSX 10.5 (Leopard) and newer.

Carbonite client software download required for use: Yes, for backups and restores, but file access and restores can also take place over the web browser interface.

Online File Backup Details

Designed for easy online file backups: Yes

Completely automatic backups: Yes

User defined backups: Yes

User defined bandwidth option for backups and restore process: No. However, Carbonite automatically uses minimal bandwidth when you are using your computer. When you are not using it (and it’s powered and connected to the Internet) it will use all available bandwidth.

Can data be sent to Carbonite to seed the initial backup: No

Support for backup of attached USB drives: Not currently, though the website references a forthcoming service plan which would allow external drives to be backed up.

Support for open and locked files: Yes

Tracking and storage of multiple versions of files: Yes, up to 3 months of versions per file.

Can multiple PCs files be backed up using one backup account: Yes, multiple PCs can be on one account, but please keep in mind that each PC/Computer will have to be added to the service plan.

Can servers be backed up: Unknown

Designed for easy online file restore: Yes

Designed that data be restored via web browser: Yes

Designed so that data be sent to you on DVD, Hard Drive or other device: No

Online File Storage Details

Designed for easy data storage: Yes

File transfer: Uploads to Carbonite using the client application. Restore managed by client application or web browser.

Online File Access Details

Online access to files from anywhere: Yes

Search capability to help you locate specific files: No

Online File Sharing Details

Designed for easy file sharing: Not Applicable

Designed for easy music sharing: Not Applicable

Designed for easy photo sharing: Not Applicable

Designed for easy video sharing: Not Applicable

Online Team Collaboration Details

Online team collaboration features beyond file sharing / folder sharing: Not Applicable

Online & Offline File Synchronization Details

Online file sync across multiple computers or devices: No, not across multiple computers. Files backed up daily or upon request in the Carbonite.com client application.

Offline file sync across multiple computers or devices: No, but if you were offline and files were changed, the Carbonite.com client application would recognize the file/s were updated and they would be backed up to Carbonite when you were reconnected to the Internet.

Web 2.0 Support Details

Support for integration with online editing of text data files: No

Support for integration with online editing of multiple document types: No

Support for integration with online communities such as Facebook, MySpace and others: Not Applicable

Security & Encryption Details

Encryption for sign up and login: Yes (SSL)

File transfer processes encrypted: Yes

Files encrypted on local computer as part of Carbonite service: Yes

Files encrypted on Carbonite systems: Yes

Encryption type for storage: Multiple forms of encryption are used.

Encryption key management for storage: Carbonite manages the subscriber keys for protection. Subscribers are also able to manage the key themselves for ultimate security.

Datacenter Information

Datacenter/s location disclosed: No

Datacenter/s facilities described: No.

Datacenter/s telecommunication capability described: No

Datacenter/s security levels described: No

Customer Service & Support

Site Searchable: Yes (for support information only, not general website information)

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and other “Self-Help” available: Yes, and robust help page and topics

How Do You Request Assistance: Multiple choices include

Live Support Chat Available: Yes, daily with specialists for PCs and Mac computers

E-Mail Support: Yes, via online form

Remote Control Support Available: Unknown

Telephone Based Support: Unknown

Customer Feedback E-mail or Form Available: Yes or No

Better Business Bureau Record Summary: As of May 28 2009, they are a member of the BBB. In the last 36 months, the BBB reports that 39 complaints have been brought forward. Of those 39 complaints, 27 were closed in the last 12 months. The majority of the issues fell into two categories, Customer Service with 14 and Service Issues with 12. The rest of the issues were spread across various areas. The good news is that 24 of the complaints were resolved, meaning that the client and the company came to an agreeable resolution. It’s good to note that of the probably hundreds of thousands of customers that Carbonite has, that they do try to resolve issues to a mutually agreeable resolution when there are problems. It also puts it into perspective, if you figure they have hundreds of thousands of clients and only 39 BBB complaints in the last 3 years, that’s not bad at all. When you further consider that most of the complaints were in the last 12 months, I interpret that to show that the company is growing and that they are continuing to enhance, improve and refine their software, systems, processes and procedures. One of the examples that I could cite might be of the online chat for technical support. It is a very competitive market and they are committed to providing the best products and service they can.

Federal Trade Commission Summary: No known matches as of May 28 2009