Tuesday, August 14th, 2007

Riding the Rising Tide (Box, Microsoft and Google)

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Nearly two years ago, in 2005, Dylan and I were debating the future of online storage. It was very clear that organizations like Google and Microsoft would make an entry into the space – it made sense, since both have missions to provide users with complete flexibility of their information online (or offline). Hoping to put down our flag and show that Box would be a leader in the space, Dylan and I hopped in a mini-van and drove south from Seattle to Berkeley, CA. And here we are today, 18 months later, finally seeing our vision of the landscape come true. Both Google and Microsoft have recently made their initiatives in the online storage universe clear. And, believe it or not, we’re happy to welcome them to our world. What does Google and Microsoft’s entrance mean to a startup like Box?

1. It means that our idea of how the computer meets the Web is shared amongst the most significant brands in technology.

2. It means that more people will be introduced to the concept of storing files online: in the news, blogs, dinner-conversation, search engines.

3. It means that there will be more standards talked about and more people to talk to.

4. It means that, in order to compete, ours MUST be better than theirs. Previously, we were competing with other startups with limited resources and reach; now, we’re going head to head with the big guys. This means that Box no longer has to just be better than your email, it has to be better than your online drive.

5. It means there are more services that we can learn from… Being one of the only players in a space limits the adoption of “best practices”– it’s great to see new insight into the problems that we’re solving.

But I thought storage was a commodity. Storage is about as ubiquitous as Kleenex. But, as anyone in the web app business knows, it’s not about the storage, it’s about the service. It’s about providing the easiest and most flexible way to get your information anywhere, share it with anyone, and protect it from anything. The day that Microsoft or Google can do this better than Box is the day we lose. So we’ll continue to work our butts off to ensure that day doesn’t come.

Given the billions of computers and mobile devices in the world, there are a lot of opportunities ahead. In many ways this is the second wave for us but the millions of people still purchasing thumbdrives won’t know the difference between tomorrow and 2005. It’s all new to them. This is where things get exciting.

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  • joedervish

    Good job! To be really better than MS or Google, please consider my advices:

    1.) Implement https. A server certificate isn’t too expensive but improves credibility highly.

    2.) Implement fast and robust dav access. From a Mac perspective, this is one of the most important features.

    3.) Implement more Office-like features, like calendar, contact and bookmark syncing (á la .Mac).

    Keep up the good work!

    Joed

  • VFisa

    I’d do some standalone application to integrate box.net into the system. I’d like to see my box alongside my discs in my Computer view in explorer. this would be nice and super easy for uploading data..

    anyway, box IS so far better than competitors..

  • george

    you guys are so awesome!

  • http://www.nesteggstudios.com Vera

    If you guys could be my company’s all around panacea/one stop shop “groupware service” (e.g. calendar, project tasks/management, contacts, forums); and not just its business storage/sharing application ( love it don’t get me wrong)..
    OMG! I would just die … and I would be standing at the front of the line with my check book.
    *sigh* Dreams