In December 2009, Fox’s parent company, News Corp sold Photobucket to Seattle mobile imaging startup Ontela.

The site debuted in November 2003 and has since grown greatly in popularity. The main page has a file selection field, where the user may select the image file to upload. The image file format must be either JPEG (JPG), PNG, GIF, TIFF (TIF), BMP, or SWF, and the file must be smaller than or equal to 5 megabytes. Uploaded BMP and TIFF (TIF) images are automatically converted to PNG format.

After the file is uploaded, the user is redirected to a page containing different versions of URLs to the uploaded image. These URLs are preformatted in a variety of HTML and Bulletin Board code snippets, which can be used to hotlink them on websites and message boards. These URLs are not listed publicly, therefore only the user and the people the user gives the URL to can know the file location. In mid-2008, Imageshack began ‘hiding’ the direct link to images, in an attempt to reduce the number of directly-linked images, as they provide no advertising revenue. After receiving feedback from users Imageshack discontinued ‘hiding’ the direct links and place them on the top of the page.

Images are stored on ImageShack indefinitely unless the image or the user who uploaded it abuses the Terms of Service. The image will be rendered inaccessible if the image uses over 300 megabytes of bandwidth in a one-hour period. If the image in question is not accessed a single time in one year, they will remove it.

There is also a free registration service that gives the user the ability to see and delete their previously uploaded images.

In May 2006 it was reported that ImageShack serves 100,000 concurrent user requests during peak operation.

Torrent service

ImageShack’s torrent service, also known as Torrent Drive or ImageShack Drive, offers server side torrent downloads through a web-based interface. Torrents are downloaded and automatically seeded by ImageShack servers, and kept for 30 days. Once finished, an HTTP download link is provided. It is provided for non-paying registered users, but limited to a quota that all such users combined can download, measured by the amount of use of the servers by paying users.

Other Information

• Commercial? : Yes
• Type of site : Image Hosting Service
• Registration : Optional
• Available language(s) : English
• Owner : ImageShack, Corp.
• Created by  : Alexander Levin
• Launched : November 2003