Last month Topia Technology launched a new syncing product called Skoot, meant to provide an alternative method to e-mail and FTP when transferring large files. Similar to services like DropBox, and Microsoft’s Live Mesh, Skoot allows users to send and manage large files over the internet in real time. The service offers end-to-end encryption to ensure data security, and is prepared to handle the eventuality of power failure or connectivity interruption. The service is most widely used by enterprises to transfer videos, legal briefs, and complex documents, but is also useful for individuals sharing movies and music. The largest file transfer thus far has been 65 gigs.
Skoot is looking to differentiate itself from the competition by specializing in file transfer rather than hosting files in an online workspace or within the cloud. To make the product more attractive than competitors offering both syncing and storage, Skoot is working on an API that will allow users to choose which cloud service (S3, IBM, 3Tera, GoGrid, etc) they would like to use alongside the syncing process. This would allow Skoot to focus on developing the fastest and most secure syncing product and complement it with the best cloud hosting services available.
Topia is conveniently stationed less than an hour away from Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, and CTO Mike Manzano says that the companies have spoken, but have not yet pursued anything together. He did however mention that he definitely sees Skoot working with Microsoft in the near future, and given Microsoft’s recent roll out of Live Mesh, one cannot help but think an acquisition or partnership of sorts is in the works. Whether they merge or not, being close with Microsoft will be a definite advantage for Topia as it grows the product.