IBM has penned an OEM deal with hosted service provider Rover Technology Fusions to build a simplified version of its (Continuous Data Protection) CDP for Files software. It claims the new product will backup business documents from laptops to a USB flash card that fits in a wallet.
The product, called Rover Sparc, includes the slimmed-down version of CDP for Files on a 2 GB or 4 GB memory card that plugs into a USB port on a laptop or desktop. The product automatically installs the continuous data protection (CDP) software and gives the user four checkboxes to select whether or not it wants to backup financial, email, My Documents folder or all Office files. The cards are encrypted using the same mechanism used by Tivoli Storage Manager, using a software-based 128-bit algorithm.
From then on, whenever the card is plugged in, the software will update it with the most recent changes to the selected data. Changes are automatically stored and then submitted next time the card is plugged into the desktop or laptop computer.
"We deliberately ignored USB [as a medium] about a year ago," said IBM chief technology officer Chris Stakutis. "It's only been recently we've started to see the high capacities being brought to newer memory cards."
Stakutis also said that IBM was frequently asked for hardware suggestions when trying to pitch CDP for Files software to small businesses. "We had to give a somewhat elusive answer, which was a stumbling block for most people," he said.
Rover Sparc is currently available direct from Rover for $US99 for the 2 GB card and $US129 for the 4 GB card. Consumers used to $US7 memory sticks might balk at that price, according to Mike Karp, senior analyst with Enterprise Management Associates (EMA). "A lot of people might blanch at paying so much more for something that looks exactly the same as the cheap card they're used to buying," he said.
The product won't be hitting the shelves at Best Buy anytime soon, however, according to Stakutis and Rover general manager Simon Morgan. The companies instead are seeking users like Broes who will buy the cards in bulk to protect an entire corporation's mobile data.
"As telecommuting becomes more and more of a trend, the more we all become our own little IT shops," Stakutis said. "This is a simple way for that market to address backup."
In this market space, Rover Sparc is competing mainly with other technologies, including USB drives or hosted online backup services. However, Lexar Media, Inc. also announced a directly competitive product last week, the ExpressCard SSD, which also comes with autobackup software. That card is shipping in 4 GB, 8 GB and 16 GB capacities. Prices start at $AUD199.95 for the 4GB card and top out at $AUD549.95 for the 16 gig beast.