Free file storage from Microsoft [BT broadband office]

Free file storage from Microsoft

Posted 27 August 2007 at 8:44AM by Simon Dickson in Doing business online

Microsoft is far from the first company to offer large amounts of free online storage space. But given the inevitability that its new Skydrive service will integrate closely with other online products, such as Windows Live (formerly MSN) Messenger and Windows Live (formerly Hot) Mail, we have to take notice.

We listed several free online storage space providers a couple of months back, and in truth, Microsoft's new offering - formerly available under the name Windows Live Folders, but only now open to UK users - doesn't compare especially favourably. You're limited to just 500MB total storage, with no one file larger than 50MB; AOL's free offering, Xdrive, has near enough ten times the space. The Skydrive interface is OK without being spectacular, and the embedding of files and folders - via a rather crude 'iframe' method - is a little underwhelming. There's no desktop uploading tool, and no synchronisation function for automatic backup of your most important files.

In Microsoft's defence, it's just a 'beta test' for now. And if continuing rumours surrounding a similar product from Google turn out to be true, don't be the slightest bit surprised if Microsoft significantly raises its game.

Tags: backup, google, microsoft, skydrive, windows live, xdrive

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Comments

1. At August 27, 2007 1:02 PM, Anjanesh wrote:

neat step by Microsoft - but a free application already exists for file storage on gmail = gdrive
- a brilliant piece of software that mimicks a hard drive locally but actually mails all files to a gmail account as attachments.(methinks there is also a firefox addin to that effect)
- Limitation : 10 mb file size upload.
- an ftp based online drive would be a welcome feature though ....

2. At August 27, 2007 2:53 PM, Dark Djinn wrote:

Microsoft will soon launch the E-Chicken Vista premium (TM) which will not only offer free online space but will check and file your mails automatically, deliver the latest news to your desktop, has an interactive diary element and lay eggs!!! How fantastic is that?

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