Storage specialist Seagate announced the next evolution of the company’s wireless storage category, Wireless Plus mobile device storage, at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The technology is designed to stream content wirelessly for up to eight smartphones or tablets with enough space for up to 500 high-definition movies.
The 1-terabyte (TB) wireless drive comes with a removable SuperSpeed USB 3.0 adapter for the loading of files. Because the Wireless Plus creates its own WiFi network, there is no need to stream or download content from the Internet or to spend money on a data plan. The Wireless Plus mobile storage is available from Amazon and BestBuy’s online store for $199.99.
The platform, which premiered at CES in 2011, includes a new option to save content and files to the drive wirelessly through the Seagate Media app. For the first time, consumers will be able to capture an HD video on their iPhone and then wirelessly upload it, in full resolution, to Wireless Plus.
“Seagate developed the concept of wireless storage to consumers with the freedom to enjoy their documents, movies, photos and music anywhere in the world, especially when they can’t connect to the Internet,” Scott Horn, Seagate vice president of marketing, said. “Seagate Wireless Plus builds on the success of our first-generation product and takes it even further.
“Content is accessed through the mobile Seagate Media app for Apple iOS, Android and Kindle Fire HD devices. The Seagate Media app has been developed for all major mobile devices, including Android, Kindle Fire HD, Apple iOS, and will also work with a wide variety of devices that can connect to a WiFi network,” he said.
Wireless Plus can also be used to access video, photos, music and documents on the big screen through Apple Airplay, Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) platforms or an app designed specifically for Samsung Smart TVs and Blu-ray players, Horn said.
“Less than half of U.S. mobile phone users are highly satisfied with the storage of their mobile phones, and almost 20 percent are dissatisfied with their mobile storage capacity,” Brett Sappington, director of research at Parks Associates, said in a statement. “As consumption of video on smartphones and tablets continues to grow, consumers will seek the best ways to get content to their mobile devices, without eating up all of the data in their monthly service plan.”