Iomega Introduces Revolutionary v.Clone Technology: Lets you Take Your PC Virtually Anywhere

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Iomega, an EMC company (NYSE: EMC) and a global leader in data protection, today announced the launch of Iomega® v.Clone(TM) software, an application that empowers individuals to create and carry on an Iomega hard drive an image of their primary PC which can be run on virtually any PC* in the world.

Iomega's ground-breaking v.Clone technology, to be demonstrated this week at the Consumer Electronics Show (Booth # 31823, South Hall 3) in Las Vegas, will be available later this month as a download for purchasers of Iomega portable and desktop hard disk drives. In addition to being available by download, v.Clone software is expected to begin shipping with Iomega USB 2.0 portable hard disk drives beginning the first quarter of 2010.

"Iomega's v.Clone technology represents the first time virtualization has been made easy-to-use and extremely convenient for consumers and small offices," said Jonathan Huberman, president of Iomega and the Consumer and Small Business Division of EMC. "With v.Clone software, you can carry your PC in your pocket and access your files, email and applications on almost any computer anywhere, including netbooks. Taking the files on your PC or laptop with you wherever you go is simple with v.Clone technology and an Iomega portable hard drive. v.Clone is the perfect application for individuals with multiple computers - it allows you to use a virtual clone of your primary computer with your other computers, ensuring access to your digital content wherever you go."

The Anatomy of v.Clone Technology

Developed in conjunction with EMC and incorporating VMware virtualization technology, v.Clone makes a virtual clone of a primary computer's operating system, applications and personal settings and stores that content on an Iomega external hard drive (USB interface only). Attach the Iomega external drive with v.Clone software to virtually any PC and the user now has access to everything that was on the primary computer. Data is not left behind on the secondary computer when the user is finished (only the application itself), and v.Clone also syncs your data back when you return to your primary computer.

What makes Iomega v.Clone software novel is its ability to keep the virtual image updated with changes made to the user's primary PC, and to synchronize changes back to the primary PC when the Iomega USB hard drive containing the v.Clone image is reconnected. These capabilities give users the freedom to move between the physical computing environment on their primary PC and a virtual computing environment virtually anywhere they connect their Iomega external hard drive with Iomega v.Clone software.

"Whether you're using your friend's computer or a family member's netbook, at the office or even flying 35,000 feet over the ocean," said Huberman, "v.Clone technology gives you computing advantages you've always wanted when you're separated from all your data on your primary computer. Now you can have it with you with your Iomega hard drive."

Everyday v.Clone Usage Applications

Netbooks, popular as they may be, lack onboard storage and are considered by most as not powerful enough to run more than simple web-surfing tasks. Not true. The dirty little secret is that netbooks are capable of running a virtual image of a fully-featured PC using Iomega v.Clone technology. Connecting an Iomega USB hard drive with a v.Clone image to a netbook turns it into an ultra-portable version of the user's primary PC, complete with all of the applications, data and files that are typically used on the main computer. This capability provides an astounding level of flexibility for individuals who prefer the convenience of traveling with a netbook. Now they can do so without sacrificing the capabilities of their more powerful PC.

Security is always important. To protect user's information and critical data stored in an Iomega v.Clone image, two levels of security are employed. The first level of security is password protection built into the v.Clone application. Individuals who cannot enter the proper password are prevented from gaining access to the virtual environment of the primary PC. For security, v.Clone can be used in conjunction with an Iomega® eGo(TM) Encrypt or Encrypt Plus Portable Hard Drive, which safely encrypt data stored on them. Security measures aside, because the user's environment is virtualized and stored on their Iomega external hard drive, personal data is not left behind on a computer used to run the v.Clone image.

In case of emergency, in addition to its primary functionality as a supremely portable backup of a primary computer, an Iomega v.Clone image also provides a "never down" benefit. Should the user's primary PC fail, the Iomega USB hard disk drive containing the v.Clone image can be used immediately on virtually any available PC. And because the v.Clone image is kept updated automatically, the user will have access to their latest documents, email, settings, etc., and can even migrate documents and settings from their v.Clone image to a new computer.

Upgrading to a new operating system and something doesn't go right? With v.Clone technology, you can run your virtual PC on another PC until you remedy the new OS or upgrade issues with your primary PC.

Iomega v.Clone Availability

The Iomega v.Clone Software will be demonstrated at the Consumer Electronics Show (Booth # 31823, South Hall 3), January 7-10, in Las Vegas. Iomega expects v.Clone software to be available for downloads later this month, from www.iomega.com, by purchasers of Iomega external hard drives. Later in Q1, 2010, the Iomega v.Clone Software will ship pre-installed on Iomega portable hard disk drives, including Iomega® eGo(TM) Portable Hard Drives (USB), Iomega eGo Encrypt Plus Portable Hard Drives, Iomega eGo BlackBelt Portable Hard Drives, and Iomega Prestige(TM) Portable Hard Drives.

About EMC

EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC) is the world's leading developer and provider of information infrastructure technology and solutions that enable organizations of all sizes to transform the way they compete and create value from their information. Information about EMC's products and services can be found at www.EMC.com.

About Iomega

Iomega Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of EMC Corporation headquartered in San Diego, is a worldwide leader in innovative storage and network security solutions for small businesses, home offices, consumers and others. The Company has sold more than 410 million digital storage drives and disks since its inception in 1980. Today, Iomega's product portfolio includes one of the industry's broadest selection of direct-attached external hard drives; industry leading network attached storage products for the home and small business; and the ScreenPlay(TM) family of multimedia drives that makes it easy to move video, pictures and other digital files from the computer room to the living room. To learn about all of Iomega's digital storage products and managed services solutions, please go to the Web at www.iomega.com. Resellers can visit Iomega at www.iomega.com/ipartner.

NOTE: This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined under the Federal Securities Laws. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including but not limited to: (i) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; (ii) delays or reductions in information technology spending; (iii) our ability to protect our proprietary technology; (iv) risks associated with managing the growth of our business, including risks associated with acquisitions and investments and the challenges and costs of integration, restructuring and achieving anticipated synergies; (v) fluctuations in VMware, Inc.'s operating results and risks associated with trading of VMware stock; (vi) competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures and new product introductions; (vii) the relative and varying rates of product price and component cost declines and the volume and mixture of product and services revenues; (viii) component and product quality and availability; (ix) the transition to new products, the uncertainty of customer acceptance of new product offerings and rapid technological and market change; (x) insufficient, excess or obsolete inventory; (xi) war or acts of terrorism; (xii) the ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees; (xiii) fluctuating currency exchange rates; and (xiv) other one-time events and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in EMC's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. EMC disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release.

* v.Clone technology is not compatible with Mac computers or PCs that do not allow installation of an application (v.Clone player), such as those at Internet cafes and other public places. v.Clone does not work with all PC operating systems.

© Copyright 2010, Iomega Corporation. All rights reserved. Iomega, v.Clone, eGo, and ScreenPlay are trademarks or registered trademarks of Iomega Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. EMC and Retrospect are trademarks or registered trademarks of EMC Corporation or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

SOURCE EMC Corporation