AT&T Releases Cloud-Based Storage: Locker

Last week, AT&T released Locker, a photo-and-video-sharing service with 5GB storage for the company's customers. This move puts AT&T in competition with Google Drive, Amazon, Glacier, Dropbox and other free, cloud-based storage services.

Locker will allow users to upload and store images and videos, and can be used in conjunction with Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or email. Users will also be able to secure music and other files in the AT&T Locker storage. Furthermore, this application is compatible with iPhone versions dating back to 3GS. 30 Gbytes of storage costs $3.99/ month, or $9.99/month will amount to an extra 100 GBytes.

With the release of Locker, AT&T hopes to broaden its customer footing that makes use of its home-based internet products. The vice president and principal analyst with Forrester Research, Frank Gillett, said: "[AT&T] looks like it's aiming at individuals with what I call a personal cloud offering, saying, 'You already use us for services such as landline, wireless and TV, you should use us for this, too, for file syncing and sharing.'"

He added: "This looks like a straight consumer play, like the way Dropbox started out, and eventually, perhaps they will do something more."

An Easy Upload feature will also be provided by the new services, and will allow automatic photo uploading on a user's device to the AT&T Cloud. Future versions of Locker will come with developments, enhancements and new features, which will be announced by AT&T as and when they are released.

The senior vice president, Data and Voice Products, AT&T Mobility, said: "With Easy Upload, every photo and video is uploaded directly to AT&T's cloud, which can be accessed safely and securely anytime from a customer's smartphone or the Web." (CY) Link