Sharpcast SugarSync Company Information and Review

Sharpcast was formed in 2004 by a team of wireless and consumer Internet industry veterans. They created the company to make our ever increasing digital life easier to manage. The company is creating solutions that enable people to have access to their data, easily, no matter what kind of files they are, or where the users are.

Their first product, launched in March 2008 is SugarSync. SugarSync is built on the proprietary Sharpcast Universal Sync Platform that they created.

They offer both a free service and a paid services. The free service allows anyone who signs up for the free service to store up to 2GB of data and sync it across 3 devices for no charge. They also offer 4 paid plans starting at under $50/Year and allow syncing across as many devices as you have.

This is a great service if you are looking to accomplish online file storage, online file syncing, offline file syncing, remote access to your files, online editing of your files, ability to send files of any size (via online file sharing) and finally, online backup and archiving. You can also stream podcasts, play your personal music files, view your photo albums, and share them. Unique to SugarSync is the “Web Archive” feature that stores your files permanently and is not part of the file syncing process. This feature enables true backup and archive capabilities.

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

Website: sugarsync.com

Contact: support@sugarsync.com

Company: Sharpcast, Inc.

Location: Palo Alto California USA

Telephone: 650-323-1960

Operating since: 2004, with product launch in 2008

Summary: SugarSync provides online file storage for personal or business users, online file editing for most file types and online file sharing, both public and private. They also offer online backup with real-time syncing across PCs, Macs, iPhone, Blackberry and Windows Mobile Devices. They offer a 2GB plan for free, and then offer 4 paid account plans of increasing storage capability. The free plan works on up to three computers, but any paid plan works on an unlimited number of computers. You can define what you want to replicate at any time. File versioning keeps track of the latest 5 versions of the file that you can go back to at any time. SugarSync also plays streaming music files and has photo album storage and sharing capability.

Details: You can store some or all of your files across as many computers as you. SugarSync keeps them all sync using their software and your files are available to you anywhere you are connected to the Internet. If you have a connection to the Internet with a Web Browser (on any PC or mobile phone / PDA) you are able to access your data.

Free SugarSync account available: Yes, 2GB free that syncs up to 3 devices. Upgrading to a paid account allows you to sync across as many computers as you have.

Paid SugarSync account available: Yes, 4 plans are available. All paid plans include syncing for multiple computers (no limit) $49.99/Year for 30GB, $99.99/Year for 60GB, $149.99/Year for 100GB and $249.99/Year for 250GB.

Single file size limit: No limit from SugarSync with one exception and a recommendation. The exception is because web uploads are not as robust as uploads managed by their software, they limit web uploads to 100MB files or less. It is recommended that files be uploaded using their syncing software, which works on files up to 2GB. On files over 2GB, they are kept in sync across computers using the sync software.

Free Trial: Yes, 30 Days to see if it works for you.

Platforms supported: Windows 32-bit XP, Vista or Mac OS X 10.4 and higher. (This author tested the software on 32 bit XP and on 64 bit Vista Ultimate. Please note that their website does not show support for Vista 64 bit, but I experienced no issues with it). The build of the client software used for testing was 1.6.3.47107.20090522. Other platforms supported by the client software are iPhone, Blackberry and Windows Mobile devices. Web browser access is also supported.

SugarSync client software download required for use: Yes, for file synchronization activities and file uploads larger than 100MB.

Online File Backup Details

Designed for easy online file backups: Yes. Though not a traditional online backup service or approach, SugarSync does have a web archive that’s used for file archive. That location is used for files that you want to have a copy of that don’t necessarily exist on your computer. It’s not a backup service in the normal sense of the word, but it works. This is not the same location that all of the files that you sync are stored, so it does not interfere with normal file synchronization processes.

Completely automatic backups: Yes, for all the computers, directories and files that you want copied to SugarSync. Once you tell it what you want to sync (and by default, back up) it will automatically keep an eye on all of the files and locations that you note. If anything changes, it knows that right away, and sends the file/s up for syncing & backup.

User defined backups: Yes

User defined bandwidth option for backups and restore process: Yes

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

Support for backup of attached USB drives: No

Support for open and locked files: No – If you are considering using the service for backup purposes, make sure files are closed first.

Tracking and storage of multiple versions of files: Yes - Up to 5 versions are stored by the service. If you want to keep a particular version of a file, you can put it into the web archive. (The web archive is a place where you can manually copy and move files around that is not the same as the synced file storage location).

Can multiple PCs files be backed up using one backup account: Yes – Using the Web Archive feature.

Can servers be backed up: No

Designed for easy online file restore: Yes

Designed that data be restored via web browser: Yes, though the client software would be more efficient for downloading as it is uploading.

Designed so that data be sent to you on DVD, Hard Drive or other device: Not Applicable

Online File Storage Details

Designed for easy data storage: Yes

File transfer: Using the client application or a web browser. Please see the comments earlier in this review for file transfer methods and recommendations.

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: Yes

Designed for easy music sharing: Yes, with online media player

Designed for easy photo sharing: Yes, with online photo album

Designed for easy video sharing: Yes, but no online player for media

Online Team Collaboration Details

Online team collaboration features beyond file sharing / folder sharing: No.

Online & Offline File Synchronization Details

Online file sync across multiple computers or devices: Yes, 3 devices on 2GB free account, no limit of devices on paid accounts.

Offline file sync across multiple computers or devices: Yes, 3 devices on 2GB free account, no limit of devices on paid accounts.

Web 2.0 Support Details

Support for integration with online editing of text data files: Yes

Support for integration with online editing of multiple document types: Yes, text files, Microsoft Office file types and images can be editing and saved online through your personal website interface.

Support for integration with online communities such as Facebook, MySpace and others: No.

Security & Encryption Details

Encryption for sign up and login: Yes (SSL)

File transfer processes encrypted: Yes

Files encrypted on local computer as part of SugarSync service: No

Files encrypted on SugarSync systems: Yes

Encryption type for storage: 128-bit AES encryption

Encryption key management for storage: SugarSync Managed

Datacenter Information

Datacenter/s location disclosed: Yes – states that there are two geographically redundant sites, but not where they are located.

Datacenter/s facilities described: Yes – states that they are carrier-grade data centers, including Amazon’s S3 facility

Datacenter/s telecommunication capability described: Yes – carrier-grade

Datacenter/s security levels described: No

Customer Service & Support

Site Searchable: Yes, help section is fully searchable

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and other “Self-Help” available: Yes

How Do You Request Assistance: Three options – live chat, discussion forum or submit a ticket

Live Support Chat Available: Yes

E-Mail Support: No (ticket system instead)

Remote Control Support Available: Not Disclosed

Telephone Based Support: Not Disclosed

Customer Feedback E-mail or Form Available: Yes, with discussion boards and other systems to track and vote on product enhancements.

Better Business Bureau Record Summary: No matches as of June 4 2009

Federal Trade Commission Summary: No matches as of June 4 2009