Box.net comes down from the Cloud to the Desktop

Just yesterday we talked about Sharepoint Workspace - the tool which allows to sync files between Sharepoint server and user's computer, and today the cloud file collaborative service Box.net (which is positioned as a Sharepoint alternative) released the similar tool Box Sync. This is a program that is installed on your computer and allows you to sync any folder in your online Box.net account with desktop. If you change any file in that folder, it will be immediately synced, and those users who have access to this folder - will receive an alert. For now Box Sync is only available for Windows and only in the paid (business) accounts. Versions for Mac and Linux, as well as the free version will appear later this year.


When Box.net first talked about competition with Sharepoint, we took it as a PR pitch. But now it doesn't look so funny. Box.net is far more innovative and fast-growing. Even without sync tool Box.net was a leader among online file storage services. It has already attracted $30 million in funding, 4 million users and has performed 500% rise in revenue from 2008 to 2009. Among its customers are Procter & Gamble, Nike, Volvo and Nokia Siemens. Box.net is one of the main evangelists in the SaaS community.

Also, we can no longer say that Sharepoint - is a platform, and Box.net - is just a service for file sharing. Box.net has become a cloud meta-platform, which integrates popular SaaS applications.