IBM has announced the launch of new software that tackles a fundamental problem - how to preserve backup copies of critical data files. The new software, dubbed IBM Tivoli Continuous Data Protection for Files, functions like a data safety net and delivers real-time back-up for data stored as a variety of formats, including presentations, digital photos, spreadsheets and so forth. On-the-move users have the ability to protect and retrieve their files from any point in time, without being dependant on a system administrator to do the job (well, that's the idea.) The software provides integration of data protection across all data formats, and works in conjunction with the IBM Tivoli Storage Manager and automatically makes copies of data, either locally or across the network. It is available from 16th September, 2005 onwards, at a price of $35 per laptop or desktop and $995 per server processor.