Box.net rolls out Microsoft Office Web storage plug-in

Box.net is beta testing a new plug-in for Microsoft Office that lets users save Office files to their Box.net storage folders. The plug-in works for both Office 2003 and 2007 on Windows XP and Vista, provides users a new "Save to Box.net" button, and gives visual notification when the file is uploading and then successfully sent. Users can then access that file anytime on their Box.net Web storage folder.

Box.net users can now download a plug-in for Microsoft Office to save files right to their Web storage folders.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

The new plug-in was built using Box.net's developer API, which the Box.net team says can be used to add this functionality to other applications. Box.net is also planning to add support for their network-sharing platform, which supports centralized file access and sharing for multiple users.

This is definitely a worthy download if you're a Box.net user, as it skips the need to fire up your browser and upload your files. However, similar solutions from competing companies offer a more robust option for file junkies. Omnidrive and Xdrive's virtual drives let you open and save remote files right from Word, or any other application for that matter, although I have a feeling Box.net isn't that far behind with their own virtual drive solution.

[via DownloadSquad]

[xxdesmusxx]

doesn't work well (or at all)

unfortunately it does not appear to work well (or at all) for me. I've tried to install the add in on 2 separate computers with Office 2007 installed and both times the add in displays, but it doesn't even prompt me to login with my credentials. Maybe I'm just having bad luck.

[Josh.Lowensohn]

hmmm, try e-mailing support

My test was on Office 2007 and it showed up fine as an add-on for Excel and Word. I tried it on a file that I had already saved locally, so it already had a filename, content, etc.

You should fire off an e-mail to the box.net folks (support[at]box[dot]net). Keep in mind this is beta and they're testing it, so things can be a little buggy.

[markfour]

Why bother with a plugin?

Services like who.hasfiles.com just provide a straight way to save to the remote storage drive, like an X: drive, or somewhat like that.
So I dunno, is there a reason for plugins of that kind?
Why don't just use a simpler service?