Review: Dliveo Delivers Easy File Transfers

Dliveo is a novel Web-based file delivery system that hopes to become the FedEx of file transfers -- and it just could be.

Dliveo uses its servers to handle file transfers of unlimited size between users across the internet, providing 128-bit security, bandwidth throttling to preserve quality of service whether you (or the recipient) have a T-1 or a 56k modem, and an easy-to-use interface you don'tdon't have to be an IT guy to get. Best of all, it's free, if you're willing to accept the banner ads and a 100 recipient address restriction. If you're not, then there will be two other pricing tiers, one for consumers and one for businesses, available this September. For now, it's free for all, though you should keep in mind that it's currently in beta.

Using Dliveo requires that you download their application to your system, and it currently only supporting Windows machines, though versions are coming for Macs (this fall) and Linux (next year). Once you've installed the application, it runs in the background with an icon in your system tray (though you can turn it off if you like). To send a file or group of files, you select them by right clicking and selecting the "Send files using Dliveo" option. After you sign in with your email address and password you're given a Web-based email client to compose a note to the recipient, who you also identify by email address, and then you just hit "Send Files" and the system takes it from there.

Receiving is much the same, in reverse, starting with an email notification that "you've got files" which directs you to the Dliveo site. If the recipient doesn't have Dliveo yet, they need to go through a quick sign-up and install the app. The company claims that if you ever want to unload it, the application will remove cleanly from your system, though of course they hope you'll never want to.The Dliveo approach, with its intermediate server, offers features and controls that FTP and peer-to-peer services -- Pando (www.pando.com) is one -- don't have. My favorite parts of the service are the bandwidth throttling and tracking. I know lots of people who are still stuck with low-speed connections, or have spotty connectivity when they travel, and the ability of the service to share their bandwidth in response to usage from their end is a great idea.

Since most of the large files I send positively have to get where they're going, the ability to track them (and the email I get back to say they made it) are critical. Dliveo tracks the progress of file transmissions and will smoothly pick up again after a disconnected session, which is also a nice touch.

Security is of course a concern, so the system is run on servers qualified for financial transactions and transmissions use 128-bit encryption. Files are wiped off the server as soon as they're delivered, and if the recipient has an active connection when the delivery request (which can be rejected) is made they're not stored to begin with.

As more email systems limit the size of file attachments they'll accept even as file sizes of photo slide shows and video clips are climbing, file transfers seem to be getting harder rather than easier. Dliveo is helping level the playing field. You can sign up to try out the Dliveo beta here.

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