Small Business

Access Box.net Files on Your iPhone

By Rick Broida

Updated on: October 28, 2008 / 12:00 PM EDT / MoneyWatch

Box.net for the iPhone [iTunes link] is a free app that lets you view and access files stored in your Box.net account.

In case you're unfamiliar with it, Box.net is one of the many Web services that lets you store, share, and back up files. You can get a free Lite account with 1GB of storage, then use the iPhone app to access it. Specifically, the app lets you:

Scroll through and view all the files and folders on your Box.net account. For viewing, the Box app supports all the file types supported by the iPhone, which include Microsoft Office files, PDFs, photos, audio and video.
Share individual files or entire folders of files with any of your iPhone contacts.
Snap pictures, upload them to Box and share them with any of your iPhone contacts, all within the Box application. You can also upload pictures stored in your iPhone's photo library.
Monitor updates to your account, such as files or folders you add or ones from people collaborating with you on your Box.net account.

Don't worry, iPod touch users: the Box.net app works with your model as well. This is a way-practical way to access files on the go -- better in some respects than Air Sharing, which links to your PC, not the interwebs. Plus, it's free, whereas Air Sharing now costs $6.99.

FYI, Box.net is one of the more established online-storage services. A while back we covered its Office plug-in, which lets you upload documents directly to your Box.net account from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Thanks to reader iphone4luv for this tip!