Box.net

My girlfriend’s twelve year old son, Michael, is a wonderful kid. He’s incredibly funny and sensitive. But, he could be the most disorganized kid in the city. This past summer at camp he lost his shoes. He came home wearing two left shoes. It shouldn’t be a surprise that he has a hard time keeping track of his homework. Sometimes he leaves it in school. Other times he completes it at home but forgets to bring it back. You’ll probably agree that Michael isn’t the only kid who’s got these kinds of issues.

This morning I learned that there’s a new Web 2.0 company that can help resolve these issues for Michael, Box.net. Box.net is an online storage system. The system allows you to upload files, share files with others, and collaborate online. The Wall Street Journal recently listed the company as one of the top ten things that an IT department won’t tell you about.

Karen Appleton, Box.Net’s Vice President for Business Development told me that the program currently has more than one million users. She added that every Fortune 1000 company is represented by at least one person. The company offers a free account with 1 GB. A 5 GB system costs $80 for the year and a 15 GB system costs $199.05 for the year. These prices seem pretty reasonable. Appleton stressed that paid accounts have increased functionality and benefits.

Appleton explained that the company’s mission is to become a data platform where files are accessible and sharable allowing for collaboration anytime, anywhere. She emphasized that she believes that technology users are increasingly recognizing the importance of online storage.

Towards the end of our conversation I told Appleton that I’m glad I’ll no longer have to buy Michael thumb drives. I can’t even remember how many he went through last year. It’ll be nice to know where Michael’s work is, on Box.net. Even if he doesn’t remember it, I’m pretty confident that his teachers and mother will remember the site.