When LaCie originally debut their USB storage “keys”, the CooKey and WhizKey, I instantly ran out and grabbed one. It looks like a key, is discreet enough to stay on my key chain and I will not instantly be labeled a geek. Not that I mind being called a geek, but some badges you don’t want to wear because it’ll invariably mean that you’ll be answering more questions to people you’d rather not.

Anyway, LaCie is now installing on the USB drives their Wuala Online Storage which allows for uploading and backing up securely online your information:

LaCie announced the LaCie CooKey and LaCie WhizKey, design by 5.5 Designers. The new USB flash keys are modeled after the award-winning LaCie iamaKey, which was recently issued a 2010 award by the internationally recognized Observeur du Design.

The LaCie CooKey and LaCie WhizKey offer more than a resilient surface and up to 32GB of storage–they include a complete storage experience by integrating an extra 4GB of online storage through Wuala. Wuala, a company of LaCie, is an innovative online storage service that allows you to securely store, back up, share, and access files from anywhere. Simply upload files and set privacy settings for the files or folders you’d like to share – allowing your family, friends, and co-workers exclusive access to those files. Designed to provide the ultimate security, files on Wuala go through a special encryption procedure and are stored in different locations in the Wuala cloud.

Now LaCie offers up to 4GB for two years on all LaCie flash keys – and 10GB of Wuala online storage for one year in combination with its hard disk storage products. These products now provide customers with more storage, as well as a more secure and convenient way to backup and share their digital content. If you would like to enjoy more gigabytes in Wuala, you can buy additional storage, or trade local storage without extra charge – one of the more novel features of Wuala. You simply trade, for example, 50GB on your computer, and get up to 50GB of Wuala online storage.

Available online and at LaCie retailers at prices starting at $19.99 in sizes from 4gb to 32gb. Wuala, acquired by LaCie in 2009, is based on technology originally debut and researched by ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology – Zurich) and offers users 1gb that are fully encrypted for your protection.

[ Links: LaCie USB Keys, Wuala ]