FWSB: What is Drop.io and what is your role with the company?

Jake: Drop.io is the simplest place to share files and collaborate online. It's as easy as that. We have a large number of common inputs and outputs into our collaboration platform, including: email, SMS, fax, Twitter, Voicemail, etc. With our service, people can collaborate online with a conference line, share documents privately, and ensure that the people they share their content with, don't have to install any additional software or create accounts.

My role with the company is two fold. First and most importantly, I'm one of the Lead Developers. I've been with the startup since it's initial idea landed on my plate as a consultant. Since then, I've also taken on the role and responsibility of creating and managing a large developer ecosystem on top of Drop.io, through our API. The role mixes development and hands on evangelism with many different people. We have some exciting projects coming out of the API and I'm glad I'm right in the mix of it.

FWSB: There seems to be a growing number of similar services out there. Tell us what makes Drop.io unique and expand on those features a bit.

Jake: Of course there are lots of services out there that allow you to upload documents or share files online, but those are usually the only focus. They require a large account signup form and often require other people sign up for their services to view or edit the documents. All of the mess just to share one document with your friends.

Drop.io holds the mantra of being the simplest place to share and collaborate online. Every decision that we make has to be questioned against "Will this make it simpler to use?" or "Is there a simple way to accomplish this task?" For example, account signup. It's a common theme amongst a lot of similar services. With Drop.io, we don't ask you for any identifying information. We allow you to provide us with email addresses and credit card information for paid access, but we don't require those at all. Just add a file, press the "Drop it" button, copy the URL and you instantly have a sharable space on the web.

Another problem with sharing online content is that it's not always accessible to every web browser or internet citizen. WIth Drop.io, we convert each and every file uploaded into a web friendly format that only requires Flash to view. With 90%+ install base of Flash, we can provide content to nearly every single person on the web. For free.

With other features such as faxing, voicemail, conference line, comments, and Twitter/SMS integration... We provide many advanced means to get data to and from Drop.io.

FWSB: Drop.io is based out of NY and you are in Fort Worth...What challenges have you faced in working as part of a virtual team? Do you prefer it?

Jake: When I approached Drop.io on working remotely, it was a choice that I made for my family. With the technology we have available, working remotely is achievable, but *only* with the right mentality on both sides (mine and Drop.io). Do I prefer it? That's a tough question. Individual work is quite easy to do from home, but in a team situation (whether a product team or not) it's tough not being right next to your team. I would probably prefer to work in the same room as my team. But in my particular case, the benefit of working from Texas outweighed the choice to move to Brooklyn and work in Drop.io corporate headquarters.

Of course there are challenges that come with working remotely. I already mentioned not being in the same room as my co-workers. Even with cell phones, instant messaging, and email, it is still not easy to get an instant reaction from the people you work with. When you're in person, even eye contact can give you a sense of immediacy that is sometimes necessary. And yes, sometimes technology fails, which can cause headaches around planning, conversation, and longer periods of contact. You also miss out on a lot of personal contact and culture with a company.

Of course, with the challenges come the benefits. I like being able to work at home, at my own pace. It saves me commuting money (and the environment), it allows me to keep watch over my two new puppies, and it allows me to work in a climate where the sun shines year round!! :)

FWSB: What has been the most interesting use of the Drop.io API that you've seen thus far?

There were actually talks of using the Drop.io API to create some form of hybrid dating site... where you can take advantage of voicemail feature (anonymously) to leave messages. Pretty crazy. I've also seen someone use Drop.io for an ARG (alternate reality game).

There are always interesting ideas that come across my email, which I'm not allowed to share for obvious reasons, but when you open up a platform that is focused around input, output, and storage... the remixing capabilities are endless.

FWSB: What's your perception of the Fort Worth/DFW tech community and how do you think it could be improved?

Jake: Since I moved here, a little over a year ago, I've been wanting to get involved with the developer community. I was involved with the .Net and Ruby communities up in Minneapolis for many years and looked for things down here. My immediate reactions where that Dallas had all of the good stuff and that Fort Worth was lacking... *but* over the year, I've met some very talented developers and passionate people in the technology circle... and I've come to the conclusion that they are in the same thought pattern that I *was* in, that everything is in Dallas and that it's too far.

The obvious next question is, how could it be improved? I think that we have some great technology groups in Fort Worth, but we need to have some more advanced groups as well. If you spend time in the general groups, like the Fort Worth Ruby Brigade and the Fort Worth .Net User Group, they both have a great set of attendees and serve their purpose very well, but I think that Fort Worth has a lot of talent and people who are looking for more. My ideas are focused around unbranding the technology circles from particular technologies or companies... and give the people of Fort Worth a platform to be passionate about technology and feel like they can be as advanced or as beginner as they want to be. Maybe it's just as easy as expanding and leading the community to form more variety. Creating tweetups, creating more focus groups on more advanced topics in technology; providing Fort Worthians a place to shine in the tech industry will bring out the best and the brightest.

With that said, I have definitely started to network around and I think that the Fort Worth Startup blog is definitely another platform which has been opened and people can shine. We need more things like this that can spark interest and show people that we do have a fantastic group of intelligent, passionate people in Fort Worth. And that they don't have to drive to Dallas to be with like-minded people!

More from Jake on: http://www.thoughtstoblog.com