I have been using Box.net’s service for more than a year now. During that entire time, I have only had one service issue and it was a very brief interruption. When discussing internet related services, once a year is a fantastic ratio. I use Box.net’s service to host many images, audios, videos and documents for this blog as well as others. It is a fantastic service with a list of features a mile long: The following features were taken directly from their site. However I personally know that there are more features available, through their Open Box platform, than they have publicly listed on their site. And they are adding more and more all of the time.
Manage and share content easily
- Familiar file and folder structure: Create and organize multiple layers of folders for all your content.
- Share with links: Share a file or folder of content with direct web links. Send them through Box or paste links in an email or instant message.
- In-folder collaboration: Share an entire folder of content with one or more people.
- User permissions: Manage variable user permissions, from view-only to edit.
- Global Folders: Turn any folder into a public web page in one click and give it a vanity URL.
- File widgets: Create widgets to share files on a company web page or blog or create a public “dropbox” so people can submit files to your Box account via your web page.
- Mobile access: View and share files on-the-go using your mobile device. Use our iPhone or BlackBerry apps or use http://m.box.net on your mobile browser.
- Full-text search: Box Business and Enterprise users can search for files with Box’s full-text search engine, which lets you search for documents, presentations, spreadsheets, PDFs and more based on file content.
Project collaboration and workflow
- Online workspace: Turn any folder of content into a shared online workspace and invite others to view, edit or add their own files.
- Discussions and commenting: Add comments to specific files or exchange feedback with team members using discussion threads, so everyone’s in the loop.
- Version History: Box Business and Enterprise users can view previous versions of files even after changes are made and new versions are uploaded.
- Web Documents: Create wiki-style documents right inside Box to share meeting notes, ideas and manage projects. Invite others to contribute and edit.
- Tasks: Keep workflow organized by assigning tasks to approve, review or update files.
- Update feeds, user profiles and email notifications: Discover new and updated content with a real-time activity feed on file uploads, downloads and comments, as well as individual activity feeds on Box user profiles. Customize and receive email notifications on activity within your Box account.
Business administration and security controls — Business & Enterprise editions
- User management: Manage user settings and permissions easily in a centralized administration console. Add and delete users individually, import users in bulk, set login credentials, allocate storage quotas and designate file and folder permissions.
- Security and permissions: Select what folders individuals and user groups can access. Designate access permissions, including editing, viewing, previewing and uploading. Decide what permissions users can grant on shared files and folders. Get 256-bit SSL encryption on file transfer.
- Password management: Password-protect files and folders and set expiration dates for shared file and folder access. Perform mass user password resets. Gauge password strength. Require users to reset passwords periodically and on initial login, based on your security policies.
- Reporting: Access a complete audit trail of what’s happening with your company’s files on Box. Generate and export file and user activity across everyone in your Box account or get a breakdown by user groups. Run reports on logins, downloads, edits and uploads for a specified date range. Find and sort usage reports based on logins, download and upload frequency and user group.
- Groups: Manage users and set access permissions by a company department or project team. Create user groups, add/delete users, select what folders they can access and what access permissions they have for each folder.
- Custom branding: Customize the Box interface and login page to reflect your company brand. Add the company logo, select a color scheme and add other basic information, such as a link to the company homepage.
Extensibility and third-party services
- Easy customization: Build new online services for your company’s specific needs using Box’s open platform.
- Integrated third-party services: Use files with more than 20 integrated third-party applications and services, including:
- Zoho: Edit documents and presentations online.
- Google Gmail: Email links using Gmail or Google Apps.
- Google Analytics: View download stats on your shared files.
- eFax: Fax agreements within Box.
- EchoSign: Sign contacts electronically.
- FedEx: Print and ship documents to FedEx.
- Watchdox: Set permissions and track shared documents.
- Twitter: “Tweet” file links to followers.
- Access Box through popular third-party sites:
- Salesforce.com: Access marketing collateral and other content easily from any page in Salesforce.
- LinkedIn: Display a portfolio of work on your profile and collaborate with connections.
- Intuit QuickBase: Browse through your Box files from within QuickBase.
- Ning: Share content on your Ning profile and collaborate with people in your network.
- Open IT Online for Firefox: Save documents on the web directly to Box.
Box.net has a 14 day risk free trial to test out their service. Click this link to get started. Still need more info? Watch the following video and then check out their site. If you have specific questions about my unique user experience with the service, send me your question on our contact page.
Tags: box.net, gmail, google, linked in, salesforce, Technology, twitter, zoho
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