SugarSync relaunches desktop, web, & mobile apps to simplify cloud storage

Consumer cloud storage startup SugarSync has redesigned its desktop, web, and mobile apps and pushed them into public beta, moves meant to attract and add more customers to the “millions” already using its service.

SugarSync faces seriously tough competition with Dropbox, Google, and smaller startups like Bitcasa all wanting to help people with their cloud storage needs. Even with this level of competitiveness, SugarSync claims it has had 400 to 600 percent year-over-year growth for the past several years. One of its biggest assets for its word-of-mouth success has been based on giving free storage to users who get their friends and family to sign up. Another is that it comes pre-installed on some Samsung and Lenovo computers.

“Our business is growing quickly and we have many millions of customers,” SugarSync CEO Laura Yecies told VentureBeat. “The market has grown more competitive, but the larger players are actually educating people about the cloud. And eventually, many of those people choose SugarSync.”

Yecies that the new apps for web, desktop, and Android were “very important” and will be a boon to bring more customers into the fold. “We’ve invested a lot in search and dozens of new features,” Yecies said.

All three applications share many of these new and improved features, including:

• Cloud Tab: With this you can see all existing folders you have synced and drag folders on to the app to sync all of its contents.
• Sharing Tab: This tab makes it easy to see what you have shared with other people and what has been shared with you. It also lets you drag a folder or synced file over one of your contacts to share it with that contact.
• Activity Tab: All of your recent SugarSync activity shows up in this tab. Ideally, you can see all files and folders you have updated and shared with others.
• Search: Find files or folders that are synced to SugarSync regardless of which device that data started out on.

The new apps can be downloaded now from SugarSync. Like Google Drive, new SugarSync users get 5GB of storage for free.

San Mateo, Calif.-based SugarSync was founded in 2008 and has raised about $60 million in funding from investors including Draper Fisher Jurvetson, ORIX Venture Finance, Coral Group, Sigma Partners, and Hatteras Venture Partners. The company has 75 employees and counts big names like Samsung, Lenovo, Fujitsu, SanDisk, and others as partners.

Check out the video and screenshots below for more looks on SugarSync’s new apps.

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