Microsoft has rechristened its cloud-based storage platform SkyDrive as OneDrive, and rolled out a new Android mobile application for the service as well. This development comes three weeks after the software giant announced intentions last month on January 27. Along with the renaming maneuver, Microsoft has introduced several freebies for its users, including an attractive 3 GB storage space for trying the new photo backup option that works with all Android devices. Further, users can get up to 5 GB additional cloud storage for referring new people to the new OneDrive service, something on the similar lines of Dropbox.
Source – blog.onedrive.com
As per reports, Microsoft is planning to roll out the OneDrive for Business service soon, which will be specifically targeting professionals, offering them the ability to store, share, sync and work together on files across multiple devices. Chris Jones, Corporate Vice President (VP), Windows Services at Microsoft, has blogged about the new OneDrive and said that it is “aligned with our vision for the future.”
Chris Jones further quipped on the official blog about the flexibility offered by OneDrive, and was quoted as saying, “Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for you to get all of your favorite stuff in one place — one place that is accessible via all of the devices you use every day, at home and at work.” The software giant has confirmed that the existing SkyDrive users will be automatically updated to get the new OneDrive. However, it may take some time for applications to get updated with the latest branding.
Source – Google Play Store
So How Microsoft OneDrive is different from the Dropbox, Google Drive?
Microsoft OneDrive isn’t much different from other prominent cloud storage platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox or Ubuntu One. The user interface of Android, Windows and iOS OneDrive applications is similar to its rivals, and the paid service packages remain more or less the same. Micorsoft offers a free basic service subscription with 7 GB storage space, and the plans go up until $100 annually for 200 GB space. The basic service offerings go like this- 50 GB, 100 GB and 200 GB storage space for $25, $50 and $100, respectively on a yearly basis. Evidently, OneDrive’s annual subscription charges are somewhat cheaper than Dropbox and Google Drive. However, Microsoft’s rivals are offering higher storage spaces if their users have such exorbitant requirements and are willing to pay more!
At present, Microsoft OneDrive is available on the three major smartphone device platforms, such as Android, Windows (obviously) and Apple iOS. Interestingly, experts have opined that OneDrive will cater especially to its fan base and majority of users whose work and personal lives revolve around Microsoft Windows or Office. However, I personally feel that OneDrive seems like a perfectly good service and application for worldwide Android and iOS users. Further as expected, the rechristened SkyDrive comes built right into the Microsoft Windows 8 operating system based devices.