About Carbonite
Carbonite is an online backup service available to both Windows and Mac users that provides unlimited backup space to consumers and small businesses. It is named after the indestructible substance used to freeze Han Solo in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
Carbonite was the first online backup company to offer unlimited backup space for a fixed price. Prior to Carbonite entering the market in early 2006, all online backup services were priced by the gigabyte. Many other vendors have since changed to an unlimited model similar to Carbonite’s. Carbonite also pioneered mass market advertising for consumer backup.
Carbonite Online Backup installs a client software program on the user’s computer that operates continuously in the background. This client software automatically seeks out new and changed files on the user’s computer and backs them using block-level incremental backup. Each file is compressed and encrypted using a 448-bit Blowfish encryption before it is sent to remote servers on the Internet. Data is transmitted to the servers using a secure https link. The encrypted files are stored on 15-drive RAID6 storage arrays. The client software also provides de-duplication at the file level.
Carbonite is designed to automatically backup all user-generated content including text documents, spreadsheets, financial documents, photos, music, etc. Specifically, on a Windows PC, Carbonite backs up everything in the Documents and Settings folder, including the desktop, favorites, and all other files except for temporary and log files. Any file or folder can be added to the default backup. On Microsoft Windows XP and Vista systems the backup software integrates tightly with Windows, adding green dots to the file icons of any backed up file. Adding or removing files from the backup is done using the right mouse button and the Windows context menus. For Intel-based Macs running OS 10.4 (Tiger) or 10.5 (Leopard), Carbonite is controlled through the system preferences and using the control + click menu. Carbonite has promised support for Windows 7 and expects general availability by the time Microsoft releases Windows 7.
Carbonite also includes a “remote access” application that allows individual files to be downloaded to any PC using just a web browser.
CEO David Friend and CTO Jeff Flowers, both well-known Boston-based serial entrepreneurs, founded Carbonite in 2005. Carbonite is the fifth joint venture for the pair who also together founded Computer Pictures Corporation, Pilot Software, FaxNet Corporation and Sonexis Incorporated.
Since its launch in 2006, Carbonite has backed up more than 25 billion files and has restored more than 2 billion lost files for its customers. In 2008, Carbonite signed with Lenovo and Packard Bell to have their online backup service pre-installed on select PCs. Acer signed on for a similar arrangement in 2009. Carbonite introduced their Mac version for Intel-based Macs with OS 10.4 or 10.5 in March 2009.
PC Plus Magazine
5/5 stars, Editor’s Choice Award
“Most online back-up services require you to learn a whole new interface, but Carbonite keeps the extra hassle to an absolute minimum. Restoration is just as easy.”
 | To Carbonite |
Carbonite CEO David Friend:
| To Carbonite.com |