Box offers 50GB of free cloud storage for Android users

Rick

Posts: 4,512   +66
Staff

For the next 30 days, Box will be offering 50GB of completely free online storage space to users who download their Android-based app. The generous amount of digital space earned through this offer is permanent and is available for both new and existing users of the service.

The special promotion appears to be Box's way of celebrating their International Android release, Box 1.6. The company has added support for several European languages, redesigned the interface and takes advantage of the action bar found in Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.x).

Existing Box users need only to download the newest version of the app on their phone or tablet and log in. Box newcomers should download the app and create an account on their Android device to ensure they receive the offer.

Finally, all users who grab the new Box for Android app by March 23 will receive 50GB of free file sharing and storage for the lifetime of their Box account.

Current Box users who want their 50 free GBs must update Box for Android 1.6 and log in from their Android smartphone or tablet. New users will need to sign up for a Box account from their Android device.

Box for Android 1.6 is available in the Android Market, Amazon Appstore, LG World, Verizon Store and Nook Store.

Source: blog.box.com

Just recently, Dropbox also offered their own promotion, letting users score an additional 5GB of digital cloud storage. However, Dropboxers were required to upload about 4.5GB of photos in order to cash in on the promo. Box's offer looks much more attractive.

Alternatively, Microsoft's Skydrive offers a generous 25GB of free cloud storage. However, Skydrive has long been criticized for its uncomfortably strict limitations, so many users have turned to other cloud storage providers. Microsoft has promised to address those concerns in the future, but offers just like this one from Box might kick them in the rear hard to enough to make them hurry up.

Also, we have recently heard that Google plans to offer its own cloud storage service and may possibly be based on a canned Google project called G-Drive -- a project who's origins can be traced all the way back to 2006. Google claims their official (and free) cloud storage service will be available in "the coming weeks". In addition, the company will provide paid tiers for users who would like to beef up their storage cap although few details exist.

Despite the news of an official solution, some intrepid users have already been enjoying their own version of G-Drive for a long time. Serivces such as Insync and Gladinet allow users to map a virtual drive which provides direct access to their own Google account's storage pool.

Despite the new ICS-centric interface, Box claims their new app is backwards compatible with most older versions of Android, although no specifics were given.

It's worth mentioning that similar offers have been promoted by Box in the past, including one for iPhone and iPad users.

Permalink to story.

 
Does this allow uploading files from your desktop? w/ 5 GB free the desktop sync was a paid service. Is this still the case with the 50 GB or no?
 
HOOK:

files you upload can be 25MB at most when you use the free service.

so 50GB in 25MB parts.
 
You still need a paid account to use desktop sync so it's kinda useless, the max file size is also 100mb. Free dropbox or skydrive still seems like a better deal.
 
Nice to know, thanks! I usually use Dropbox but have been experimenting with Sugar Sync- free 5 GB with desktop sync. Haven't heard of skydrive.
 
Google's rumored and yet unconfirmed G-Drive puts me to think... how about if Google pulls off a Gmail? I mean, when Gmail was launched there was Hotmail with its paltry 5-25mb limitation and Yahoo's more decent 100mb or so. So Google came along and gave us a full gig, and it was a game changer.

Cloud storage and cloud integration is now being touted by not only the likes of Dropbox but also Apple and Microsoft. So how about the day after tomorrow Google was to offer cloud storage and multi-platform integration with 100GB of free storage that keeps growing a la Gmail?
 
I hear running storage servers are not cheap, that there is plenty of overhead and maintenance. This begs the question, who is paying for everyones free storage?
 
Or rather by which means they bear the expenses to run these storage servers, obviously advertising / selling data etc. ?
 
Back