IDrive Inc. is a technology company that specializes in data backup applications.[1][2][3] Its flagship product is IDrive, an online backup service available to Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android users.[1][2][3]
Pro Softnet Corporation's initial product was called IBackup, but it acquired the idrive.com domain name from defunct company I-drive around mid-2003.[5]
Pro Softnet Corporation has been plagued by patent infringement lawsuits and has spoken out publicly about how they are a drain on the company's resources.[13]
IDrive is an automated backup application that runs on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. Once installed, users select folders and files to be backed up at user-specified times. IDrive offers incremental and compressed backups so users only upload modified portions of a backup file, and files may also be updated in real time with a continuous backup option. Users have the ability to limit bandwidth usage during the backup process.[6] The previous 10 versions[14] of a file are automatically retained and IDrive does not automatically delete backup data, even if backup files are deleted on the user's computer.[7] Users can share their files through email, social media sites including Facebook and Twitter, and via a mobile phone application for Android, iPhone and Windows Phone.[citation needed]
IDrive allows a user to back up data from all compatible devices to a single account. The iDrive application runs natively on Windows, OSX, as well as on several models of NAS devices made by Synology, QNap, and Netgear.[7]
IDrive provides multiple data retrieval options. Backup files can be accessed remotely from any Internet browser or with IDrive's client software. If a user wants access to all backup files, IDrive can ship all backup files on a 3 TB hard drive.[6][15]
Files on IDrive are stored using 256-bit AES encryption allowing for an optional user-defined key that must be shared with IDrive, but which IDrive claims will not be permanently stored on their servers.[9] IDrive also provides activity reports, backup status reports and shared file reports.
IDrive Lite is a free application for iOS, BlackBerry and Android devices, which allows users to back up their contacts list online.[10][20] Users can also restore their backup contacts to different devices, even devices that have different operating systems.[10][21]
In 2012, IDrive released IDrive EVS, a publicly available software development kit and API.[22] The kit, which includes built-in encryption and a command-line API, allows users to create applications for use with IDrive's cloud storage services.[22]
IDrive Photos is a subscription-based app for iOS and Android devices that allows users to back up photos from their phones.[23][24] By default, photos are saved in their original resolution in cloud storage.[25]
IDriveConnect - allowing users to access their Google Docs as if they were sitting in a regular folder on their computer.[12]
IDrive 360 - Endpoint cloud backup for enterprise, IT and Service providers
