PayPal is preparing a new feature on a select range of users that allows them to securely store files with the payments provider. The new service, called DropBox, creates a secure storage area that is associated with the account. What we are not sure about is if this is a service just for merchants, or if it is a service that will be open to every user – from what we have seen so far it seems this is more of a service for merchants.
In terms of technology, it is very simple. If you enable secure storage for your account you are then able to create access accounts. Using these accounts, you can then SFTP (Secure FTP) files to the PayPal server. Windows does not have a default SFTP client, though there are freeware and payware apps that can be downloaded. SFTP can be found on most UNIX-based operating systems (command-line sftp). So it seems all that PayPal will be offering is a place to put these files. Also, SFTP means that the transfer is secure, so either encyption happens on the server or it is up to the user to encrypt their files.
This seems like an odd distraction for PayPal, but the service can be akin to a safety deposit box on the web (ie. store once, access infrequently). We hope to see more reasoning why PayPal are releasing DropBox once it is released – until then we can only speculate what it will be used for.
Screen shots are below. Thanks to Joel Strellner at urltrends for sending this to us.
I think this is more for batch processing files than storage. I’ve never been directly involved, but have worked with users that access bank and insurance company’s online “Drop Box” websites for uploading/tracking Accounts Receivable Conversions (i.e. scanned checks).
I wonder if it’s end goal is to have some sort of delivery/fufilment mechanism for software/documents that can be purchased via PayPal and they’ll manage the purchaser’s accesss to the file etc.
Surely this looks very intriguing but am not sure what the entire idea behind this ‘Drop Box’ really is. It might be secure storage of Paypal invoices or might just be a place for users to store their most sensitive data.
For small software merchants who have a free “basic” and paid “pro” version of their stuff, this service is a great addition. Both the secure payment and the (instant) secure file delivery could be handled by PayPal.
DropBox seems like a service that everyone should have access to. Doesn’t everyone’s transaction need to be as secure as possible. In term of usability PayPal has to make it user friendly if they want it ot be widely used. It is very strange that PayPal on of the most secured sites online needs more security. It leaves us wondering if the site was hacked.
ALWAYS ASK WHY?
I’ve alwys thought that with Paypal’s zealous developer community they (Paypal) were misssing a trick with not offering a simple way for merchants to deliver digital products. Hopefully this is the solution. This could upset a lot of the larger digital delivery players whilst enabling the smaller guys easy entry into the world of self publishing and distribution of digital content.
Here’s hoping…
“I wonder if it’s end goal is to have some sort of delivery/fufilment mechanism for software/documents that can be purchased via PayPal and they’ll manage the purchaser’s accesss to the file etc.”
That makes the most sense
This screams digital download. Very nice.
I bet it’s a very complex phishing scheme. Book it.
Yup. It’s digital download all right.
Think Itunes Music Store for software.
Just another online storage service to add to the list.
Hey Mike, how about http://www.Onli...rageCrunch.com? I would bet you could fill that up rather quickly heh
“This screams digital download. Very nice.”
Very interesting coming from PayPal and welcome news for those offering a valuable digital product. A more secure distribution mechanism due all access being tied to a credit card than email and user/password comboes. It won’t stop illegal copies floating around, but it will be a bigger hindrance to anyone wanting product X as noone will want their PayPal credentials running loose on the Net.
I’ve been praying for this kind of thing from PayPal forever. Thank you Jesus!
Maybe it has something to do with Payloadz.com
This definately seems like an online storage & distribution service for downloadable products. If our assumption is right, then this could be helpful for vendors of Software, ebooks or other downloadable products.
This service could also save vendors from those fake chargebacks. When a seller recieves a chargeback, there is no option for seller to provide tracking info for intangible items. Paypal only asks for shipping tracking info to ensure delivery. Downloadable items do not have a Fedex or UPS tracking number. In such cases, Paypal would be able to track the delivery & evaluate chargeback accordingly.
Probably a delivery location for soft deliverables, like purchased software, SOW, pr0n, etc. Business has lots of paperwork involved, and this makes a decent method of delivering.
If its file transfer could you argue that it is confusingly similar to Ryan Carson’s DropSend file transfer service? I’m sure they have that trademarked.
I can’t imagine why any software vendor or PayPal would be interested in PayPal hosting software binaries – it doesn’t make any sense. For popular software (eg. Skype, Java – not a great example as both are free) – Paypal would have to deal with millions of downloads / hour – that’s not their business.
What would make sense is a secure digital safety deposit box for software keys and contracts – things you don’t want to loose, things you don’t want to have stolen. That makes a lot of sense (for users, vendors and Paypal).
I wonder if they are working with Etonica.com to deliver DropBox – they spell it exactly the same with a capital D and B. Also, I use DropBox Pro from Etonica and love it – awesome app – export locked accounts to my clients and they just start sending me over large files – it is an awesome product. I have often wondered if they were working with companies like ebay, photocucket, etc.
As a merchant who uses PayPal to sell software, I’ve always wondered why PayPal didn’t build their own digital product delivery service that tied into their payments system, especially considering the huge number of software developers using their API to securely deliver content.
Probably just a way to upload files for processing bulk payments or other catalog data
Possibly a way to upload detailed invoice data…Another potential use could be to share data that could facilitate transaction between two parties on eBay.
Just guessing really
More likley just a way to download account reports.
likely one of the items speculated on above, or perhaps for hosting secure logos (previously not provided by PayPal, but required for merchant logo branding on checkout page).
my guesses:
1) digital goods download (aka http://www.PayLoadz.com)
2) fax / order fullfillment docs
3) logo / other files needed for SSL-enabled pages
[full disclosure: i used to work for PayPal, and we suggested a few of these options a couple of years back]
- dave mcclure
http://500hats.typepad.com/
This is an existing feature for large merchants to download logs. Anyone that has tried to export logs through PayPal’s normal web interface knows it is pretty poor. This is the solution.
We provide a digital delivery system based on the PayPal payment system for those commenters posting about that topic (Also won 2 Star Developer Awards at eBay Live!).
Cheers.
Does anyone know how many movie downloads amazon has done? I’m wondering whos doing better so far amazon or apple?…
i just write to looking this program
Stay as far away from Paypal as possible!!
For pay digital downloads, of course.
Now I know why they can’t deliver on their promise of letting PayPal users in Poland request money as of September 14, 2006–they’ve been too busy working on this new feature.
Yes – if it is a file transfer system then it is very similar to our DropSend. Infact, DropSend was originally called DropBox but we couldn’t secure the trademark so we changed it to DropSend. http://www.bare...opsend#comments
We were told that DropBox was not trademarkable since its a well-used phrase within the computing industry.
It’s possible that if PayPal’s DropBox service is within the main PayPal service then they won’t need to trademark it. If it’s a separate service then they probably will.
If it could access Mp3’s and such it would be great for sites like mine.
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Dear Paypal user,
Paypal is now to offer an secure storage facilities for all you files. We’ve now provide a place to put all you files with sensitive infos so no hacker can get them. Please upload all important documentations immediately or your Paypal account will be forfeit in 5 days. Just go quickly now to:
http://255.255....?cmd=_login-run
Upload of files is very quickly and easily. Please no reply to this email.
Privacy and Security
Paypal have very many concerns about you privacy and secure. We are members for Versign and truste service. You can feel very safe sending to us all your files. We’ve to offer the FDIC insurances and are locate in San Jose home of many great technology company.