vVault targets mobile workers with wireless suite

SAN FRANCISCO -- Studies indicate that more than half of all workers are traveling or away from the office at least one day each week, and this is causing a growing demand for remote wireless access to company files. Targeting this market, vVault has introduced a suite of business applications called vVault Anywhere designed to connect mobile and remote workers from laptops and office PCs.

"Our goal is to provide mobile professionals with truly untethered productivity, whether they are in an airport, at a client’s site, or at home on the weekend," said Stephen Burke, president and CEO of vVault. "Building on the robust foundation offered by our hosted vVault secure storage and access capabilities, the addition of our new Direct Desktop Access feature for real-time file access via PCs and wireless devices greatly extends the power and reach of the vVault service by enabling instant, unanticipated access to files wherever they reside."

Burke said that with the vVault Anywhere service, subscribers can access files stored on desktop PCs and corporate networks, and secure online storage -- including e-mail attachments -- from a browser-enabled device and forward them via e-mail and fax. vVault Anywhere’s Direct Desktop File Access feature allows real-time access to PC and network file systems via connected PCs and wireless devices, without the need for server hardware or other IT resources.

The vVault Platform is marketed as enabling mobile professionals to access documents, message information, and collaborate with colleagues in the ways they want to work: by fax or e-mail, on laptops, using WAP phones and pagers, and wireless PDAs, Burke said.

Virtual drive

The vVault Anywhere service allows subscribers to store files on vVault’s secure, hosted "virtual drive," or access desktop files directly from “always-on” home and work PCs. Users can then view, share, e-mail and fax print documents from wireless Palm OS and Pocket PC devices or RIM Blackberry pagers, increasing their productivity and responsiveness. vVault Anywhere’s unique bundling of file access, management, e-mail, and faxing makes it the most complete solution for mobile professionals and small businesses who want to manage important files when working away from the office. 

"vVault Anywhere is a fantastic work tool," said Amy Kankiewicz, a sales manager with AAA Networks in Arlington, Va., who uses vVault to demonstrate the wireless Web capabilities of her wireless phone products. "It is easy to use and gives people the ability to access, fax and e-mail contracts and other business documents in just a few clicks."

Brian Hartman, owner of Brian Hartman Photography, and an AAA Networks customer, uses vVault on his Nextel 855 phone to access and send marketing documents to prospective clients. "With vVault and my phone, I can fax or e-mail one of my brochures to someone right as I’m talking to them at a party or on the street, which is pretty impressive"

Currently, 48% of vVault users work in companies with less than 100 employees and 74% work in companies with fewer than 500 employees, the company reports. vVault users represent a range of vertical industries with concentrations in sales, legal, insurance, finance, health, high tech and consulting. 

Access while traveling

Scott Fox, a property manager with Rodney D. Young Insurance, relies on vVault’s real-time desktop file access capability when he travels to train the company’s claims adjustors located nationwide. “With vVault, I do not need to find a computer to access training documents,” Fox said. "I can store them on my PC, and then retrieve them remotely via vVault any number of ways." 

John Chu, a partner with Boston-based law firm Chu, Ring and Hazel, uses vVault to store key documents that he and his 10-person legal staff need to access periodically, such as client agreements, image documents and model contracts. He also uses vVault as a database for articles that he clips and saves to send to clients when the need arises. Instead of saving the originals and having his assistant photocopy them, he simply searches for the articles he needs in vVault, then faxes a copy to clients from his desktop, saving time and staff resources. 

vVault's Burke was named two months ago to the position of president and chief executive officer. He replaced company co-founder and interim CEO Will Aldrich who moved to the position of Vice President, Product Development.

Burke's background

Burke joined vVault from PacketVideo Corporation, where he served as chief business officer, president of PacketVideo Japan KK, and most recently as senior vice president responsible for global strategy and planning. At PacketVideo, he launched the company's efforts with mobile operators in North America, Europe, Japan, and Asia, and also spearheaded strategic ASP relationships in Japan. 

Prior to joining PacketVideo in 1999 Burke spent 15 years with Sony Corporation in Japan and the US including an assignment as vice president of sales and marketing for Sony’s Wireless Telecommunications Company, where he led the launch of CDMA handsets as general manager of Sony/Qualcomm CDMA sales. 

"Stephen Burke is clearly an asset to vVault as he is one of the most knowledgeable people in the wireless technology space and brings with him extensive industry experience," said Mark Berman, Director of Telecommunications Equity Research at Credit Suisse First Boston Securities (Japan). "At PacketVideo, Burke was instrumental in defining and creating the framework for wireless rich media applications now being deployed in Japan and elsewhere."

Burke received a degree in Chinese language and history from Middlebury College and is currently completing his master's of Japanese studies at the University of Michigan. 

Six months ago, vVault announced that it has successfully secured $3 million in the close of its Series C preferred equity financing. Lead investors Bluefish Ventures and Biscom, Inc. were joined by venture capital firms Gerard, Klauer, Mattison & Co., XL Ventures, and Washington Investment Partners. In addition, the financing group included private investors Mark Patterson (Vice Chairman, Credit Suisse First Boston), Jack Hennessy (Former Chairman, Credit Suisse First Boston) and Leo Hindery (Chairman, HL Capital).