Sky Launch Store and Share

[NewsreadeR]

We have reason to believe that Sky are about to launch a new service for their customers, whether paying for a Sky TV subscription or not, similar to BT's Digital Vault service.

We are not sure when it is going live, but there appears to be 3 different accounts.

• Starter - 1GB Storage space - Free*
• Standard - Backup Manager** and 10GB of space - £2.50 per month
• Premium - Backup Manager** and 60GB of space - £4.50 per month

With the Upload, store and share service from Sky you will be able to do the following:

• Helps to keep your important photos, music and other files safe in your Store & Share account
• Manage your files and share photo albums, videos or documents with your friends and family
• Access and download your files from any computer connected to the internet

With Backup Manager** it allows you to:

• Automatically back up your selected important files
• Manage and share your files^ from any computer with an internet connection through your Store & Share account
• Restore files easily from your Store & Share account to your PC

More information can be found here Sky Store & Share |

* Free Store & Share Starter account includes 1GB storage. Sky TV subscription not required. Service will continue providing it is used at least every 30 days. Terms and Conditions apply.

** Backup Manager only available with Store & Share Standard or Premium accounts. Backup Manager currently not Mac compatible.

^ Store & Share allows sharing of photos, videos and document files. Sharing feature not available for music files.

[Undecided Adrian]

I just can't see any point to these systems, my backup drive recently developed a fault and for £30 I got another 160gig PATA drive and stuck it back into the USB housing I have for it.

I certainly wouldn't trust my important data being online somewhere, what happens if your connecton goes does for several days?

[mikey4020]

Suppose it's handy for sharing files betwen friends and family, but I don't see the point in using this for backing up. A HD is easier and faster for backups and to restore from.

[NewsreadeR]

The ironic thing is, for a small business it would be ideal. ie To back your accounts package up and keep it offsite in case of fire etc.

However you cannot use your Sky BB for business. So alienating some people I feel.

60gb storage is good for less than a fiver a month. I haven't compared to BT to see how much difference there is between the two.

[Postman Pat]

Purely for research of course, i have tested the starter service, all went well uploading a file , so i would assume it has started now

[Alan b]

I use an online storage site to back up my inportant files so this is an interesting development from Sky. I might give this a look later as there is no halm in giving it a go.

[NewsreadeR]

Just signed up to the free one.

Shame they missed the dead link though on the Sky Logo.

http://nmtest.bskyb.com/portal/site/skycom

[Simon]

I've been using iDrive for a while now, 2GB free and recommend 5 friends by email and they give you another 10GB free. Synchs your chosen folders quietly in the background at a speed of your choice.

Free Online Backup, Encrypted, Secure and Automated!

[speedyrite]

I have now had an official e-mail from Sky about this service.

Note for Mac users: Standard and Premium, the paid for options which use the Backup Manager software, are not Mac compatible. Don't know about the Starter option...

[Alan b]

Going by this:

Backup Manager only available with Store & Share Standard or Premium accounts. Backup Manager currently not Mac compatible.

I would say the starter package is mac compatible