Dropbox and Microsoft join forces in cloud
Dropbox has formed a surprising new partnership with Microsoft to integrate the file sharing site with Office.
The announcement was made as Dropbox founder Drew Houston took to the main stage at the Web Summit - the last of more than 20 speakers on day one.
He told delegates the new deal would benefit many of its 300 million users who store some 35bn documents, spreadsheets and presentations in the cloud-storage platform, as well as Microsoft's 1.25 billion customers.
Within weeks users will be able to integrate the two at the tap of a button.
"I can't think of another time something like this has happened," Houston told the packed hall in the RDS.
"It's really going to be great for a lot of people."
Houston, endlessly frustrated by carrying USB drives and emailing himself files, and began working on a project that would eventually become Dropbox in 2007 with fellow MIT student Arash Ferdowsi.
It has gone on to become one of the most successful file sharing companies in the world and even turned down an offer from his hero - Apple's Steve Jobs - to acquire the company in its early days.
He said the meeting was cool and Mr Jobs had been "very complementary" but they never even discussed money.
"I got a piece of advice from a friend," he added.
"If you don't want to talk about selling your company don't talk about selling your company."
Irish Independent
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