Good news! SugarSync, a file synchronization and backup service for PC and Mac (reviewed positively here on WWD), today started offering free accounts (previously the cheapest option was $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.)

The catch is that free accounts are limited to 2GB of storage, which will be inadequate for backing up large collections of files or music, but for syncing a few big files between machines — accessing project files on the road, for example — it could be very useful.

SugarSync differentiates itself from its competitors (like Dropbox) by offering comprehensive mobile support, with clients for iPhone/iPod Touch, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices. The free accounts announced today include access to the mobile clients.

Let us know what you think of SugarSync in the comments.

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Without a network sync component like Windows LiveSync (aka FolderShare) and DropBox, Box.net competes by focusing on reliability and accessibility. Once a file is uploaded to Box.net, it’s easy to grab and edit from any desktop browser or mobile device. The service is consistently fast and available. Plans range from free to enterprise solutions. While the free version is functional with 1 GB of storage space, it may be worth the upgrade to the $7.95/month Individual plan for the faster uploads alone. It’s significantly faster than any FTP server I’ve ever used.

After keeping the same look and feel for years, Box.net recently refreshed their interface and introduced the ability to create documents directly on the site.

The new look shows more info about a folder at a glance. Before you had to click on a drop-down menu to work with a file/folder; now most of that info is right in the sidebar. This makes it much easier to collaborate on assets.

They’ve also introduced the ability to create documents on the fly. Previously, you had to create your document in another application and then upload to Box.net. Now, you have no need to jump out of Box.net for simple additions.

It’s not meant to replace Google Docs or Zoho or any on- or offline word processor. For starters, you can’t import or export files. But all the basic WYSIWYG editing functionality is there. Don’t think of it as an online Microsoft Word, think of it as an online Notepad or TextEdit.

Truth be told, the value of this feature is limited. You certainly wouldn’t use it for complex documents. But, if the file is not explicitly shared, it is locked even to collaborators. So it could be useful if you want to write more information/instruction than can fit in the sidebar comments and you don’t want your collaborators to remove or edit the file.

The significant weakness of Box.net is its lack of an offline feature. If you don’t have Internet access, you are not getting to your files. The company has hinted that they have something cooking in that direction, but until then it’s important to keep a local copy of any files that you might have to access on a moment’s notice.

What service do you you use for cloud storage?

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I recently had a nice chat with Community Manager Sean Lindo about what they have coming down the road (and about how we’ve been using Box.net at my day job). One of the projects he mentioned was a new iPhone application that they were waiting to clear the App Store.

I have to admit, I was a bit ho hum at the news. Everyone is doing an iPhone app these days. The app was released today. I downloaded it this afternoon, expecting a rather basic file browser.

I didn’t give the concept enough credit. The reality is better than that.

First of all, it’s fast. Even over a 3G connection, it’s pretty zippy for an app that relies on its connection to the ‘net.

The killer feature of the app that separates it from being just a ho hum file browser is its ability to preview files. It’s not just images. Documents and PDF files render quite nicely in the application, just as they do for email attachments in the phone’s mail application. This will be very handy for those times I need to review a document while traveling. If you tap on a MP3, it launches the iPod application on the phone and streams the file.

The app continually monitors your Box.net account while it’s running, so any changes on either the phone or the server are reflected instantly. Nice.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be a way to reorganize files from the app (move/copy between folders) but you can share files with email contacts and upload photos from the phone’s camera.

If you already have a Box.net account, the app will let you get more use out of it. If you don’t have an account, it looks like Box is offering folks a free 1 GB account if you sign up from the iPhone. Otherwise, plans start at $7.95/month for 5 GB of space.

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