Qwest is offering online backup to its high-speed Internet customers. The first 2 gigabytes (GB) are free; customers pay for additional storage capacity.
Two gigabytes is adequate for most document storage, with space left over for a limited number of digital photographs. Storage of other media – audio and video files – takes up more space.
Customers can sign up for 50GB of vault space for $6.99 per month, or unlimited vault space for $9.99 per month.
Customers who purchase a 12-month term for 50GB or unlimited vault space save more than 15 percent on the monthly rates.
The service, called Qwest Personal Digital Vault, is based on encrypted, offsite storage. Users can schedule automatic backups.
Neil E. Cox, Qwest’s executive vice president of product and IT, said, “Home computers and hard drives will eventually fail, and the best use of Qwest Personal Digital Vault is to backup these important digital keepsakes for when that time comes.”