Mangosoft is rolling out a software/service package that will let users
share files over the Internet using peer-to-peer technology that could be cheaper
than using a VPN and more secure than e-mail.
Mangomind software lets users securely access files over the Internet, then
create, control and store them using Mangomind's business file-sharing service. That
service includes storage and hosting of those files on a Mangomind server. Users from
different companies could also share files for projects they are working on together.
For companies that have critical business documents - such as those used for
technical support, marketing and product development - the software is a simple way
to share files without the normal constraints of a corporate network. Unlike Lotus
Notes or Microsoft Exchange, Mangomind has a small footprint on the desktop and can
be downloaded using a Web browser through an Internet connection.
Mangomind's collaboration software resides on a PC and behaves like any other file drive.
IT professionals can use Mangomind software to create a drive and give
access to users who need to share files. The administrator also sets access control for
files and folders. Users then link to the Mangosoft Web page, where they download client
software and install it on their PC. Anyone given permission to join a Mangomind drive can
then access and share the drive. Users working on files while disconnected from the Internet
will have their documents automatically synchronized on reconnecting. If the Mangomind server
detects that two users have modified the same file, the file is placed in a "conflict bin"
and the user is informed.
Users don't need to change current behavior to use Mangomind because it
appears to be just another drive in their file manager, says Michael Hoch, an analyst
with Aberdeen Group. "It looks like you are going in through Windows Explorer, so the
user doesn't have to learn a whole new way to interact with the desktop or document," he says.
Companies sharing files over the Internet need to make sure they are secure.
Mangomind documents are encrypted for security and kept on a Mangomind-hosted server. Companies also need
to make sure the documents are available to users for access. Mangomind host servers can be placed
at ASPs and Web host sites to help ensure the host servers are always available.
The Mangomind package is available now and works with Windows 95, 98, NT and
2000 networks. A single user license starts at $29.95 per seat and includes 10M
bytes of hosted storage space, which is needed to store documents. Discounts are provided
based on license volume, contract duration and payment terms. Additional disk space is
also available. A Mangomind Starter Kit is available for free until Dec. 31, which
includes 10 seats and 100M bytes of managed storage.
