Full FeedHP to close their Upline backup service as of March 31, 2009
HP has recently announced plans to shut down their cloud-based storage service. The service, Upline, which was originally launched last April will soon be closing down. The stated reason for termination was that “HP continually evaluates product lines and has decided to discontinue the HP Upline service,” which I would imagine somehow means that it was not proving worthwhile in terms of money.
The Upline service will officially close on March 31, however current customers will see their backups stopping as of February 26. Those backup files will then remain online and available till the end of March. After the March 31 deadline, customers will no longer have access to any files that are remaining in their Upline accounts. Bottom line, if you are a current customer, make sure you get your files quickly, before you lose them.
As for any current paying customers, according to HP, you can expect a refund for the “full amount of the fees you paid for the service.” Those refunds will be returned by your original payment method, and you should see that money before March 31, 2009.
This just goes to show that online services, even those from a reputable or big company cannot always be trusted. This email makes me pretty happy that I never decided to use the Upline service. I had signed up for an account, but eventually settled with SugarSync for my online backup needs. Let’s just hope that they stay around.
Read [HP]
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This is why should never use a backup service that has been around for a year or two. Most of these companies offer low costs for services and are not generating enough revenue to sustain services. Companies such as NTG and AmeriVault have been around for 10+ years!! Our business has chose there services and for years now they have proven to be strongest online backup providers.
Companies such as HP threw out these services thinking there was a market for this business, but wasn’t doing it the correct way. Barracuda is another one of those companies I feel. A new service with low prices. NOT GOING TO LAST.
on February 27, 2009 at 02:21 PM - LINKI am not surprised to see HP abandon this business. While storage is cheap, and such a service looks “easy” to run, in fact we have found that backing up our operations’ data is only 1/2 the battle - being able to restore it is the MORE important side, and that is where low cost services let you down. We tried Upline, and another major “name” in technology’s services, and found restore time was too slow, too difficult, and too unreliable to be useful. We searched around and found AmeriVault as our provider, and while the price was higher, the results were exactly what we wanted. Fast, easy, well supported disaster recovery and backup. When you deal with someone who make such a service an ancillary part of what they do, you get ‘afterthought’ support. With a focused provider, you get what you need. Bob
on February 27, 2009 at 02:32 PM - LINKHi Robert,
Glad to hear you’re using SugarSync! As an FYI, we just closed a $10 million funding round, and since Sharpcast (makers of SugarSync) is entirely focused on providing a single syncing, cloud storage and sharing service, you don’t have to worry about us getting distracted or losing interest in this market. It’s what we do.
Allison
on February 27, 2009 at 03:25 PM - LINK(from Sharpcast)