Iomega Introduces New StorCenter Network Hard Drive

October 17, 2005 – Iomega Corporation today announced the fastest, most complete solution for storing, enhancing, experiencing and sharing all kinds of digital content on a home or small business network: the new Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive with built-in UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) A/V network media server and embedded FolderShare software. Marking a new era of centralized storage that’s flexible, scalable and easy to manage, the Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive begins shipping later this month in capacities of up to 250 gigabytes (GB), with a one terabyte (TB) model expected early next year.

“Although computer users have been working with digital content for years; today they need more reliable and accessible ways to store their photos, music, and video content,” said Lee Williams, Vice President, Consumer Product Generation, Iomega Corporation. “The Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive takes the next logical step and makes storing, experiencing and sharing most forms of digital content simpler and easier than ever, creating a true media hub for today’s digital home and small business, and without always requiring the use of a PC.”

Supreme Speed, Effortless Automation
Designed for easy installation, Iomega’s StorCenter Network Hard Drive transforms the network experience for home and small office users by supporting Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux computer clients at Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1,000 Mbps) transfer rates. Its automated Discovery Tool wizard provides for an easy and secure setup with password-protected network storage for up to 25 users, all without the cost and complexity of a server.

With its built-in network media server, the StorCenter Network Hard Drive lets home users stream their movies, music and slide shows directly to any home audio systems and televisions in the house via an attached UPnP-compliant digital media adapter (sold separately) without the need of a PC. Embedded FolderShare software also gives users a secure peer-to-peer network for sharing and synchronizing files with other computers anywhere on the Internet. And with Iomega Automatic Backup Pro (IAB Pro) software, Windows users gain automatic backup services that run seamlessly in the background, keeping critical data protected 24 hours a day.

The Safety of Centralized, Expandable Data Storage
The StorCenter Network Hard Drive instantly adds up to 1TB of storage space to a network so critical business tasks like secure file backup are easier to manage. The StorCenter Network Hard Drive’s two USB 2.0 ports not only enable future expansion, but also support external USB hubs, allowing users to attach up to four additional USB 2.0 storage devices and two USB 2.0 printers simultaneously to a single StorCenter drive.

By providing the flexibility to add storage as digital content requirements grow, the Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive becomes the expandable network storage hub—giving users the freedom to store years of digital photos, entire digital libraries of movies and music, in addition to work-related data files and complete system images of their connected PCs, all instantly accessible and password-protected from unauthorized access.

“Feature for feature, we think that the Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive is the best product in the home network storage market,” said Williams. “Iomega’s StorCenter Network Hard Drive is uniquely powerful; it is one of the few network drives with media server capabilities, and it is the only network drive that comes with embedded FolderShare software for secure Internet file sharing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no need to leave a computer running. That means people can easily share their files with approved users or seamlessly retrieve their files while traveling. It’s the essential tool for simpler file transfers over the Internet, and synchronization of the content is seamless and automated.”

The Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive also meets the rapidly growing need for network storage in the digital home. There are an estimated 18 million networked homes in the U.S. today (2005 Parks Associates – Analysis & Forecast), a number that’s expected to grow to 50 million digital homes in the U.S. by the year 2010 (The Diffusion Group – 2004 Research).

Hardware Features
The Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive is a UPnP-compliant device that installs easily into any Ethernet-based network and operates independently of a host PC. Iomega’s StorCenter drive provides two dramatically improved network features: the embedded FolderShare software enables secure Internet transfers even when all PCs on the network are shut down, and the 160GB and 250GB StorCenter’s built-in Freescale PowerQUICC II MPC8241 processor provides more than enough power to support streaming files directly to PCs and network-attached entertainment devices with the StorCenter’s UPnP media server capability (entertainment devices may require a UPnP-compliant digital media adapter, sold separately).

“Iomega’s StorCenter Network Hard Drive exemplifies the latest generation of feature-rich, consumer-friendly network storage solutions for the digital home and small business,” said Lynelle McKay, vice president and general manager of Freescale Semiconductor’s Digital Systems Division. “Iomega’s StorCenter Network Hard Drive’s rich features require high-performance processing solutions. Freescale’s PowerQUICC II processor delivers on those requirements, making the StorCenter the ideal way to centralize, protect and organize digital data in today’s homes and small businesses.”

Features include a Gigabit Ethernet network connection for fast network transfer rates and two USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed USB) ports for future expandability. Both 160GB and 250GB models use a 7200 RPM drive; 250GB models come with an 8MB cache.

Usability features include password-protected user accounts and assignable user-directory quotas. All models include print server capability with USB-attached printers, and both USB 2.0 ports support USB hubs for further expansion.

Included Software
The Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive will ship with Iomega Automatic Backup Pro (IAB Pro) software, providing users with a complete client backup solution. IAB Pro software offers the choice of continuous real-time backup or easy configuration of scheduled backups if preferred. Users can back up multiple file revisions, maintain security with password protection and AES file encryption, and make each storage dollar go farther with up to 2.6:1 file compression on typical uncompressed office documents.

The embedded FolderShare software provides users with the buttoned-down security of a controlled, invitation-only private network. Unlike most peer-to-peer software applications, FolderShare ensures that only invited users can access FolderShare libraries. Behind the scenes, FolderShare authenticates invited users using RSA key certificates, and it protects file transfers from computer to computer with AES file encryption using 256-bit keys.

Exclusive to Iomega is the embedded FolderShare capability—the software runs on the StorCenter Network Hard Drive itself, not on a host PC. As a result, the files stored on the Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive are always available to authenticated users over the Internet, even when the local PCs on the network are turned off.

Price and Availability
Iomega expects the Iomega StorCenter 160GB Network Hard Drive to be available later this month for $199.99; the Iomega StorCenter 250GB Network Hard Drive, for $289.99 (all prices are U.S. suggested retail). Both products will be available at major U.S. retailers, distributors and online stores, including www.Iomega.com. Iomega plans to introduce a 1TB StorCenter early next year.

SOURCE Iomega