Earthlink adds VPN service; Xdrive adds mobile access service

- Gary Thayer, News Editor

Atlanta, March 21, 2005 -- (MobileVillage) -- In separate announcements today, EarthLink and Xdrive have launched services that allow mobile Internet users to access and share files. U.S. Internet service provider EarthLink added a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service, and Xdrive added mobile access to its online storage service via wireless handhelds and smartphones.

Xdrive goes mobile

Xdrive has added an application that allows subscribers to access files and folders, send faxes, email documents, listen to music and view slide shows from any wireless device with Internet access.

To use the Xdrive wireless service, users create an account at the Xdrive web site, and then upload the files to the new account, such as Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, digital photos and videos, QuickBooks files, and MP3s. To access the files, users just connect to the Internet on their mobile device and login.

The company's "Virtual iPod" service (no word on whether or not this name was approved by Apple) lets users listen to their personal music collection through their mobile device. Similarly, users can view a mobile slide show of their photo files.

Xdrive costs US $9.95 per month or US $99.50 for the annual plan. The service includes 5 Gigabytes of online storage space and complete access to all of the Xdrive applications and services, including the new wireless feature. A 15-day free trial period is available.

Earthlink adds VPN

Earthlink's new VPN service is essentially a rebranded version of the VPN service provided by Positive Networks. Targeted primarily at small- and medium-sized companies, Earthlink's VPNLink application gives any designated, remote computer full network access, allowing the user to share files and applications with co-workers.

VPNLink is available as either a client-based and Web-based application, and is interchangeable with EarthLink's VPN WebLink, which enables employees to get secure remote network access while offsite from any computer with an Internet connection.

According to Earthlink, other features include the ability to:

• scale to several thousand users;
  
• centrally manage policies relating to security, resource controls and end-user experience;
  
• monitor PCs and laptops to ensure complete end-point security
  
• detect, in real time, virus infections, firewall changes, spyware applications or other vulnerabilities, and provide automated support to restore policy compliance; and
  
• automatically deploy or make available new updates such as anti-virus or critical Microsoft Windows patches to maximize end-point security.
  

Service plans start at US $100 per month billed on a subscription basis. For more information, see the Earthlink web site.

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