Dropbox reaches 175 million users and sets sights on Apple's iCloud

Cloud storage firm looking for full cross-platform integration for file storage

Dropbox has passed 175 million users and has set its sights on expanding its userbase by embedding its cloud storage service into more Apple and Android mobile applications.

The figure of 175 million represents an increase of 75 million users since November 2012, who are syncing over one billion files a day, including photos, documents and videos. Dropbox announced the increase in users at its first ever developer conference, DBX, in San Francisco.

"We're proud that Dropbox has become the home for millions of people's most important stuff. So we want to be sure that stuff is always available, no matter if you're on your laptop at work, a tablet on a plane, or a smartphone on the bus. Keeping devices and apps synced with your most up-to-date info has gone from "nice-to-have" to essential, which creates a real challenge for the people developing apps," the company said in a blog post.

"That's why we've designed the Dropbox Platform to be the best foundation to connect the world's apps, devices, and services. We started with the Sync API, which let developers take advantage of the file syncing technology that took us years to get right. And today, we're announcing a suite of tools that fundamentally simplifies how developers can build across devices and platforms," it continued.

The move essentially pushes Dropbox into Apple's iCloud territory, with Dropbox allowing cross-platform file transfers between Apple and Android products.

Dropbox also announced its new Datastore API (application programming interface), which will allow users to transfer files from within apps to the cloud.

"With the Datastore API, we're moving beyond files and providing a new model for effortlessly storing and syncing app data. When you use an app built with datastores your data will be up-to-date across all devices whether you're online or offline.

"Imagine a task-tracking app that works on both your iPhone and the web. If it's built with the Datastore API, you can check off items from your phone during a cross-country flight and add new tasks from your computer and Dropbox will make sure the changes don't clobber each other," said the blog.

Dropbox recently received an honourable mention in Computing's top 10 best free iPhone apps for the enterprise.