* Dliveo aims to simplify the online transfer of large amounts of data
A powerful use of the Web that arises from its ubiquity is the ability of Web sites to be used as common “switch points” for routing data.
An interesting example of this technique can be found in a new Web service called Dliveo from Ultrasend, which is currently in beta and for Windows clients only.
The purpose of Dliveo is to make the transfer of large amounts of data simple see the FAQ.
The Dliveo Web site is used as a routing mechanism and then client-side applications at both the sender- and the recipient-end perform a point-to-point file transfer – in other words, you have to be online for the transfer to happen.
The Dliveo site also provides a logging service so that you know the status of all of your incoming and outgoing files. As several people have observed, Dliveo is performing a service rather like FedEx by managing and tracking “packages.”
When you sign up with Dliveo for the free beta service you provide your name and e-mail address along with a password. Dliveo e-mails you a verification message and when you click on the embedded link, your account is activated. You can then download and install the client software (just over 1MB).
The first time you run the client, you have to provide your e-mail address and password then you’re ready to transfer.
A useful feature is that the Dliveo client also conveniently integrates with Windows Explorer so that the service is available in the context (right click) menu making it easy to send files when you are browsing the file system.
If you try to transfer files to one or more people who aren’t registered with Dliveo the recipients will get a message inviting them to join. Once they do, the files will be transferred to them.
File transfers are kept private using 128-bit encryption although there’s no guarantee that Dliveo doesn’t have “backdoor” access to transferred content for legal purposes (when the courts, the RIAA, the MPAA, or Homeland Security comes knocking, it is rather difficult for a service provider to say “no”).
All Dliveo transfers get a “tracking number” and the Web site shows the details of when the delivery is queued, when it is received and so on. The target recipients can accept or decline delivery and senders can cancel delivery before or during transfer. The service recovers transparently from transfer errors.
When transfer is complete, the recipient’s Dliveo in-box notifies the user. You can access the Dliveo client services through an icon in the system tray. Most of the client side options such as inbox and outbox launch a Web browser to the Dliveo site.
According to the backgrounder when the Dliveo service moves out of beta testing into full release the basic service will still be free and a premium version is planned which will include extensive tracking, file storage, and enhanced customer service for $9.95 per month.
A beta version of a Mac compatible client will be available in September.
