Cloud Storage Startup Dropbox Launches BlackBerry App

Online storage and document file sharing service Dropbox Sept. 22 made available a new set of mobile applications, including updates for the company's Apple iPhone and iPad and Google Android apps, and the first release of the new Dropbox for BlackBerry.

Dropbox is a free and premium application that automatically makes available files on one computer-a desktop, for example-to multiple mobile and handheld devices via its own cloud storage. All a user's Dropbox folders mirror each other as files are dropped into them, and the additions happen in real time.

The new applications include:

• Dropbox for BlackBerry;
• an update of Dropbox for iPhone and iPad, which includes automatic offline caching for recently accessed files, support for HD video and high-resolution photo capture (available free via Apple's App Store);
• an update for Dropbox for Android (available for download via Google's App Market), with added support for photo galleries and multi-photo upload, ability to automatically send files to Dropbox from other apps, progress bar and notifications for file transfers;
• Dropbox App Directory: This make it easier to find and evaluate partner applications built with the Dropbox API. This directory features app information, screenshots and reviews from some of the most popular productivity app providers.
  

Dropbox's mobile apps, the Dropbox enabled partner apps and information on the Dropbox mobile API are available here. Developers can find technical information, sample code and other resources for building apps with the Mobile API here.

Dropbox CEO Drew Houston said there are now more than 100 third-party mobile applications now in market that use the company's APIs to make mobile document editing, image capture, note taking and other features available to Dropbox users.

Currently, Dropbox offers both a paid premium account and restricted free account with 2GB of storage.

Houston said Dropbox has attracted "millions of people" to its services since it released its initial Dropbox iPhone application in 2009 and iPad and Android versions in May 2010.

"In both their work and their leisure time, people increasingly use an array of Internet connected devices, and not just a single computer," Houston said. "Dropbox offers a common thread that ties all of these systems together, making important files and data immediately available regardless of device."