Comcast forgets about its bandwidth cap, launches online file backup service

By on Feb 19, 2010 at 3:14 PM
News February 19, 2010

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With little fanfare, Comcast launched a new online file backup service called Secure Backup & Share for its broadband internet customers. The new service utilizes Mozy, an online backup solution that is currently managed by Decho Corporation, a subsidiary of EMC. Using a tool installed on your PC and soon Mac, the service will backup selected files to a secure online location that can be accessed from any web browser, including your web-enabled mobile phone. Three tiers of storage are available including the Standard 2GB plan which is free, the Preferred 50GB plan which is $4.99 monthly or $49.99 yearly, and the Premier 200GB plan which is $9.99 monthly or $99.99 yearly. Apparently Comcast forgot about its bandwidth cap and “network management techniques” when offering these plans as the 200GB plan comes dangerously close to the 250GB monthly cap and the uploading process will definitely cause you to max out your connection for more than 15 minutes which may result in your connecting being throttled. Comcast does not state whether the cap or throttling is waived for those accounts that purchase a storage plan, so we must assume that both are still in effect, a situation that certainly diminishes the attractiveness of these plans. It also begs the question, if Comcast’s network is so strained that it has to enforce a cap and utilize “network management techniques”, why are they offering a bandwidth-intensive online storage solution?

[Via CNET]

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  • JakeB

    Chris when did you use comcast because while many say things like comcast cant sustain rated speeds during peak times, I have had comcast be a great upgrade. In Atlanta i have never come close to my rated speed, but way over it. I get a 12 meg package thats pulling 21megs all day. I think a few years ago all isps sucked but id never use DSL. No matter what. It is inferior technology. I have had many people tell me comcast sucked to find out for myself that they are just plain wrong. While this cap and online backup are crappy plans and there is no increase on cap if you pay for a higher speed, its better than not being able to play games online. Or worse play horribly.

    For the people who dont understand how you could use 250 gb let me tell you that if you download a game and buy it for xbox it will take up like 7 GB. Then talk and play online and use youtube,chat sites, itunes, or online backup that it would be simple to go over 1000gb. If you have netflix and stream in high def a movie can be 12GB for one movie.

    • WilliamRLBaker

      Except DSL is not inferior technology it is infact proven technology then you have the fact in the end its still information being sent over metal lines, Open up a coax and you’ll see.

      If you dont live in areas upgraded with fiber optic lines in the ulities then you are on old hardware simple as that, And if your area isn’t rewired with new copper techniques and lines then your on old hardware with DSL.

      But it is in no way an inferior technology not when Cable telco’s are working on just as ancient lines as phone most of the time, and the way the cable is setup Cable telco’s just go ahead and overload areas instead of spending the time and money to fix the infastrucuture and make it beter.

      So yes Comcrap does suck at keeping their lines going at max speed and beyond, and they do suck at keeping their ping times up through the majority servers such as Chicago,IL hub.

      I wish Fios was available here I would drop comcrap in 5 seconds I’ve had only problems since Comcrap took over insight here in indiana.

      Their service, money charges and inept staff verge on the criminal.

      • Jason

        I’m not sure about where you live, but I know in my state the three cable operators I’m aware of Comcast, Cox, and Charter all use mostly fiber optic networks, which run fiber optics to a pedestal which then feeds coax to a small number of houses/buildings “fiber to the curb”. DSL usually runs entirely over copper.

      • WilliamRLBaker

        that is probably a sign of why you have fiber optics.

        comcast, Cox, and Charter in your area.
        where Im at we have 1 cable company for the majority of the state…Comcrap.

        they are a monopoly in quite a few states and being a monoply aren’t forced to upgrade the infrastructure of the areas cable lines.

      • Matt

        Wow…I was just talking about how Comcast is a monopoly. Also where I’m living, fiber optics isn’t available and everybody here is pretty much stuck with Comcrap. It is so easy to easily surpass the 250GB cap. I use about 3GB to 10GB a day and I’m already at 253GB out of 250GB and it isn’t even the end of the month.

        Comcrap has got to improve and change their rules or their going to start losing business, cause if Verzion Fios is offered where I live, I would drop Comcrap within seconds.

  • CleanFun

    I spend too much on Comcast to even bother considering their cap. When I go over the limit, I don’t even give it a second thought. If they decide to terminate my service, I will just switch to AT&T and stay there.

  • http://truck2112yes@yahoo.com truck2112yes

    Well I guess that’s what I get for trusting Comcast customer service…I was told before I got the service that there was NO CAP (unlimited usage) so now I am checking my usage for July and I am at around 550 gbs.
    Does anyone know if they are enforcing this rule? I would hate to have to start with someone new, just over having to pay the startup fees again.

  • ordway

    we had to switch, for going over limit conststently, in minnesota

  • Anonymous

    I hate Comcast and the idea of ​​limitation, a thing
    must have in mind about online data back-up is usually only the initial
    backup that uses a huge amount of bandwidth. Then, only changed files
    get loaded, so the backup service is not constantly re-up the entire
    hard drive.
     

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