I-drive
Encyclopedia
Data storage
Data storage can refer to:* Computer data storage; memory, components, devices and media that retain digital computer data used for computing for some interval of time....
service that was founded in December 1997 by Jeff Bonforte with seed investors and launched its first product, a pioneering online file storage service in August 1999. The idea originated from an early company Jeff Bonforte co-founded in 1996 called ShellServer.net, which provided 10 MBs of space for IRC users. Jeff Bonforte compiled the founding team, which included Chris Lindland, Patrick Fenton, Tim Craycroft, Rich MacAlmon, John Reddig and Lou Perrelli (the last three were also the company's first angel investors). Originally presented as i-drive.com, the company acquired the domain idrive.com in the fall of 1999. The initial product offered a limited amount of free file storage space, and later enhanced the offering with 'sideloading
Sideloading
Sideloading is a term used in Internet culture, similar to "upload" and "download", but in reference to the process of transferring data between two local devices, in particular between a computer and a mobile device such as a cellphone, smartphone, PDA, or portable media player.Sideloading...
' – storing files such as MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
s collected on the Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
without the need for the user to download them to their individual computer. In 2000, the company began offering unlimited storage space. In 2001 the company transitioned from offering the free storage service and transformed the underlying software architecture into a middleware storage mechanism and product, seeking to sell into various markets including the 3G marketplace, targeting companies such as DoCoMo and Earthlink.
i-drive's assets were acquired by the EMC Corporation
EMC Corporation
EMC Corporation , a Financial Times Global 500, Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, develops, delivers and supports information infrastructure and virtual infrastructure hardware, software, and services. EMC is headquartered in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA.Former Intel executive Richard Egan and his...
in 2002. Certain assets were also acquired by Pro Softnet Corp which also offers services in the field of online storage. At its height, i-drive hosted over 10 million registered users, employed 110 people, and held partnerships with MP3.com
MP3.com
MP3.com is a web site operated by CNET Networks providing information about digital music and artists, songs, services, community, and technologies. It is probably better known for its original incarnation, as a legal, free music-sharing service, popular with independent musicians for promoting...
, ZDnet.com
ZDNet
ZDNet is a business technology news website published by CBS Interactive, along with TechRepublic and SmartPlanet. The brand was founded on April 1, 1991 as a general interest technology portal from Ziff Davis and evolved into an enterprise IT-focused online publication owned by CNET...
, and 40 major universities. The service was rated as a "Top 5 Web Application" by CNET
CNET
CNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...
in 2000 and one of the "3 Top Technologies to Watch" by Fortune Magazine in 2000. The company raised over US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
30 million from venture capitalists such as Draper Fisher Jurvetson
Draper Fisher Jurvetson
Draper Fisher Jurvetson is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California with affiliate offices in more than 30 cities around the world and over $7 billion in capital commitments....
, Infinity Ventures, Global Retail Partners, Hikari
Hikari
"Hikari" means "light" in Japanese. It may also refer to:Hikari may refer to:-Places:*Hikari Station, a station on Sanyō Main Line in Hikari, Yamaguchi*Hikari, Chiba, a former town in Sousa District, Chiba, Japan...
(JP), Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
(NL), EMC
EMC Corporation
EMC Corporation , a Financial Times Global 500, Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, develops, delivers and supports information infrastructure and virtual infrastructure hardware, software, and services. EMC is headquartered in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA.Former Intel executive Richard Egan and his...
, and Partners Group
Partners Group
Partners Group is a global private markets management firm with over EUR 20 billion in investment programs under management in private equity, private debt, private real estate, private infrastructure and absolute return strategies...
(CH).