Xdrive (website)

Xdrive
Type Subsidiary
Industry Online storage
Founded United States
Headquarters United States
Parent AOL

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]

References

  1. ^ 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."
  2. ^ 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/. 
  3. ^ 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. 
  4. ^ "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.