Interview with Steekr CEO Christophe Camborde

Steekr is an online storage solution that is highly integrated with media services.  Their product is among those few companies that is at the forefront of the move towards the digital home.  They've garnered over 250,000 members, and provide online storage and backup functionalities that are scalable to whatever it is you need.  Media, like your DVDs can be stored using Steekr and played on another device, really bringing about a value proposition that will make their services ready for consumers. 

Below is an interview with Steekr CEO, Christophe Camborde.

What exactly is Steekr, and how did it come about?

Steekr is an online storage service with a "store, share and play" concept based on the steek technology and edited by Agematis.
Our virtual hard drive is a private secured online data storage area, a sharing space with friends or colleagues for any data (work, pictures, movies, etc.), with streaming and slideshow capabilities (Music, Pictures, Videos). We also have PC an Mac software for online Data synchronization on the net. To be complete I must precise the data are accessible from any connected device (PC, GSM, Smartphone, TV, etc.).

Steekr's technology is a AJAX/web2.0 based convergent platform with the online storage functionalities Steekr and also a strong backup application called Steekup. Two different usage, only one platform.

For the word "steek", it came from "stick" "stickness" "post-it" to explain the end customer we can help him to have is online data not floating is the cyberspace but attached to a secure platform.

What are some of the challenges you've faced with developing media solutions for consumers?

Early in Agematis story (company created in 2002) we have worked for ISP. The challenge was to create mass market tools, very simple and scalable.

Today the challenge is to be accessible from everywhere and anytime and also through a maximum devices like smartphones or IPTV box.
Another difficulty is to manipulate several different multimedia format sometime not compatible with the client equipment. How can we explain the end user that is divx is not compatible with is phone or his IPTV box ? So we are to transcode all format to other supported by mobile phone, computers or TV box.
An actual point we adress is the DRM on music or video. How can whe explain to the end customer that the legal files with DRM are not interoperable when the MP3 files can be accessible from almost all the devices ?! We are working hard on this challenge and will be the firt to have a "network DRM solution" with online interoperability capabilites.

How is media shared using Steekr?

Most of the files we receive are photos (JPEG) coming from mass market cameras. Having the photos online has a double advantage : you can share with friends and you can backup your online memory.

Another usage is having your MP3 online to listen to your music from anywhere. This usage will be more popular with new wi-fi connected devices in the future. You will be able listen from your playlist in your bedroom, your kitchen or your office directly from your online hard drive.

How is media, such as DivX, able to be stored using Steekr, and played on another device?

First, we have an online divx streaming plugin. You can test it here by selecting the file and click on "Play."

Steekr is an open plateform. We have an API for applications that can read/write content on the drive. For exemple we are working for an ISP in France called NeufCegetel, and created a product called Neufgiga. Neufgiga is powered by steek, we are doing the PC/Mac application, the web interface, the mobile interface and NeufCegetel is doing the IPTV interface through our API. Today NeufCegetel customers can see their DivX on their PC/Mac, mobile and TV!

You can see here the mobile interface:
http://preview.steekr.com/test/

What are the next steps for Steekr?

Next steps for the product : online document edition, online content store with major partnership, more space and less cost for the end user!