14 DAY TRIAL // Last week, Microsoft announced a series of changes brought to its SkyDrive service, including the introduction of paid plans for new users, and the launch of desktop applications to ease the access to this service.
Starting with last week, new SkyDrive users are being offered only 7GB of free storage, down from the 25GB that were offered before.
The Redmond-based software company claims that over 99 percent of users need only these 7GB of storage for their files, while only 0.6 percent of SkyDrive users require more storage.
For them, however, the company has put in place specific plans that add 20GB, 50GB, or 100GB of storage to the available 7GB. Prices range from US$10/year (7.5 Euro) for the 20GB plan to US$25/year (19 Euro) and US$50/year (38 Euro) for the other two, respectively.
For a limited period of time, those users who already have a SkyDrive account can opt to keep the 25GB of initially available storage space by signing in.
For those who uploaded over 4GB of files, Microsoft automatically enabled the 25GB of free storage option for them. Additional info on the matter can be found here.
In Microsoft’s vision, the new approach to personal cloud storage is much more flexible than before, given the fact that it enables power users to get additional paid storage for their needs.
“Different cloud providers take different approaches. Many promise unlimited storage or big referral incentives to attract enthusiasts – but then have lots of strings attached, which can make the service more confusing and less accessible to mainstream users,” Mike Torres and Omar Shahine, group program managers for SkyDrive, note in a blog post.
“Our model for SkyDrive is friendly and accessible to all, and just as importantly, provides a gimmick-free service that strikes the right balance of being free for the vast majority of customers, and low-priced for those who want more.”
In addition to these new plans, Microsoft also announced the availability of a preview version of its SkyDrive for Windows application.
Through it, users can view and manage their SkyDrive files straight from Windows Explorer of computers that run under Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista. The app is available in 106 languages worldwide.
It is different from the SkyDrive Metro style app that was included in the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, but it offers similar functionality. It also enables users to upload files of up to 2GB to SkyDrive.
