Sharpcast’s SugarSync, an application that synchronizes data across desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones, and even televisions, is rolling out a service designed specifically for businesses. As people split up their digital lives across devices and the Web, allows you to back-up any kind of digital file, including videos, spreadsheets, photos and documents, in the cloud and access it from virtually anywhere via a variety of devices. You can read our past reviews of SugarSync here and here.
SugarSync for Business, which is specifically designed for small businesses, lets enterprise users sync data across computers and smartphones syncing capabilities, share folders and collaborate with employees within its platform. The version allows administrators to create account for many users, where employees share the storage amount, but each employee has a separate user account (the employee’s data is not shared with other employees). Admins can set storage limits for each user and also receives alerts when user is near limit. And it’s easy to delete a user account without losing the data that’s in the account.
Of course, one of the draws for the business is that ability scale large data storage easily and quickly through a simple interface. Because it is cloud based, SugarSync can provide this to businesses for affordable prices. The base plan starts at $29.99/month for 100 GB and 3 users. Additional users can be added for $9.99/month and more storage can be added in 100 GB increments for $29.99/month. The services also offers free phone-based customer support.
Similar to its consumer product, SugarSync for Business supports computer and smartphone operating systems, including Windows, Mac, iPhone, Blackberry, and Android. SugarSync has already tested in small businesses and is especially popular with graphic designers, law firms, real estate offices and other service-oriented companies with data-intensive environments.
SugarSync for Business also features some of the innovative functionality of its consumer product, including the ability to share files with anyone in their Gmail, Hotmail, AOL or Yahoo Mail contact lists. Users will also be able to directly upload photos stored in SugarSync to Facebook, with functionality for additional social networks to be rolled out in the near future.
SugarSync faces competition from Windows Live Mesh from Microsoft, which won a Crunchie for best technology innovation earlier this year. Startups Dropbox, Box.net and Mozy also provide popular storage services in the cloud.