Vodafone to offer cloud-based PC backup

Vodafone plans to offer a range of cloud-based services to consumer and business customers, including remote PC backup and the ability to view and share content via the web.

The first such service, Vodafone PC Backup, will enable customers to securely back up content from their computer to a remote repository. Users will also be able to access this content via a web browser, reducing the need to transfer content from one device to another, according to Vodafone.

Set to be introduced across a number of European markets by the end of the year, the service is based on the Mozy online backup service operated by Decho.

A spokesman for Vodafone said that PC Backup is designed to give customers peace of mind, and that they will be able to upload whatever data they want to the online repository.

The Pro version for businesses will start at 10GB of storage, while the consumer version is set to offer unlimited storage, subject to a fair use policy. Customers will be able to use Vodafone PC Backup over both fixed and mobile broadband connections.

Vodafone said that pricing for the service will be down to the local operator in each country. The spokesman said that it might be offered as part of a high-end network tariff, or bundled with a netbook sold along with a 3G dongle and airtime plan.

With the Mozy service, all files are encrypted before being transmitted to a datacentre operated by Decho. It supports scheduled backups, or can automatically back up files when the computer is idle, and uses bandwidth throttling to prevent the backup from tying up the user's internet connection.