AOL developing file-backup service

America Online Inc. (AOL) is developing a new service that will let its members back up files from their PCs on AOL data centers, so that the members will be able to recover files either deleted accidentally or lost due to a hard drive failure, an AOL executive said.

“The concept is for users to very easily, either automatically or with one click, back up files from their hard drives to the AOL data centers,” said Kerry Parkins, director of product marketing at AOL.

The backup feature is an interesting one to add to the AOL online service, but its adoption will depend heavily on AOL making a case to its members about its benefits, since PC users in general aren’t in the habit of backing up their hard drive data, said David Card, a Jupiter Research analyst.

The file backup service will be a premium service with tiered monthly pricing based on storage levels: $2.95 for 100M bytes, $4.95 for 250M bytes or $9.95 for 1G byte, on top of the monthly AOL fee, according to information gathered from an AOL brochure and from AOL’s online service, where the service is currently being beta tested. Members can access it by typing in “File Backup” in the “keyword” interface of AOL’s online service.

Files stored at the AOL data centers will be encrypted and access to them will be controlled via a password and an answer to a security question set up by the user, according to the AOL information. Users will determine when and how frequently AOL performs the automated backups; users only need to make sure that their computers are turned on and connected to the Internet at the scheduled backup times, according to the AOL information.

The files will be stored on two separate AOL data centers for added redundancy. If users need to retrieve files from the AOL data centers, they will be able to do it either from the proprietary AOL online service interface or from any computer with a browser by going to http://www.aol.com., according to the AOL information.

The idea for the service came from an AOL survey that found that about half of its members have experienced loss of data in their hard drives that they hadn’t backed up, according to the AOL information.

Users will be able to back up any file they want to, but the service isn’t designed to restore an entire hard drive including program files, but rather for storing copies of files that are important and hard to replace, according to the AOL information.

AOL still doesn’t have a timetable for when the service will be available, AOL’s Parkins said.

On Thursday, AOL launched the latest version of its online service, AOL 9.0 Security Edition, which includes a variety of new and enhanced online security tools.