ReachMyFile allows you to do just that

ReachMyFile [App Store link] for the iPhone/iPod touch comes very close to being the holy grail for moving files between a remote Mac and your iPhone over the Internet.

It allows you to search for files on a home or office Mac, then download and view them on your iPhone, or email them directly to someone else without the download ever passing through your iPhone. The system uses a 128-bit encrypted link. Files can be located by navigating your hard disk, or simply naming the file.

ReachMyFile allows you to view PDF, JPEG, many audio and video formats, MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint files. It does not display iWork files, but you can transfer them to your iPhone or email them to any other computer.

Although the app is pricey, US $19.99, it provides a lot of bang for those bucks. You can try a free version of the app, ReachMyFile Lite, [App Store link] which limits file transfer size, and doesn't allow you to email files from your remote computer to someone else. It will let you see if the system works with your Internet connection and router combination. Mine worked fine, and I'm not able to use Back to my Mac with the same router, so I expect it will work for most people.

Read on for more, or take a look at the screenshot gallery below.

To get everything running you install a special desktop application on each computer you want to access. You set up passwords, and enter info about your email account and outgoing mail servers. The desktop version of the app does not need to be running for the service to work. It is just a front end for changing parameters and passwords. Likewise, your email app doesn't have to be running on your remote computers. The ReachMyFile service can forward files directly.

The iPhone side of the system runs under Wi-Fi, EDGE or 3G. Of course, the faster your connection, the more rapid the downloads. For forwarding directly from your computer to another computer, the speed of your iPhone connection doesn't really matter.

There are a couple of weaknesses, of course. You can't upload anything from your phone to a remote computer, and I would think after using ReachMyMac for awhile, many users will want that functionality. Also, when downloading to the iPhone, the app must be running because Apple doesn't allow background tasks for 3rd party apps yet. The good news is that if your close the app, or lose connectivity, a download will resume as soon as you run the app again.

I think many people will find this a must-have application. Their are other apps that are on a similar playing field, like File Magic and Air Sharing, but those apps are for moving files between an iPhone and a computer with Wi-Fi or Bonjour. I haven't seen another Internet based app that has the depth of features and ease of use that ReachMyFile allows. I'd strongly suggest you try the free version and see if it works for you. Then you can decide if you want to invest 20 bucks in the full featured application. There is an extensive FAQ and a video demonstration of the system up and running at the ReachMyMac home page. Meanwhile, Mike Rose is testing Readdle Docs and he plans to have his comparison review posted this weekend, so we'll see how it sizes up.

For many people, this suite of desktop and iPhone apps will be a game changer. As the iPhone evolves, and hopefully opens up even more, ReachMyFiles should morph into a very mature and powerful system that people use every day, and will wonder how they got along without it.
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