Along with URL shortening capabilities, and other features more

Feb 21, 2012 09:52 GMT  ·  By

Apparently, Microsoft is hard at work with revamping its SkyDrive cloud service with a series of highly appealing new features.

The Redmond-based software giant is reportedly gearing up for the release of a SkyDrive Wave 5 Milestone 3, which should bring along support for BitLocker recovery keys storage, along with some other features as well.

Previously, we reported on Microsoft’s possible plans to add paid subscriptions to its SkyDrive offering, so as to provide users with more storage space than they already benefit from.

It seems that it was only the tip of the iceberg, and that there will be far more enhancements coming to SkyDrive users via new updates to the service.

Among them, we can count the option to have BitLocker recovery keys stored in SkyDrive, at least this is what a recent article on LiveSide reads.

The feature might be linked to Windows 8 and its availability, and will require for uses to verify their identity using a confirmation number via email or SMS, or by accessing the service via a trusted computer.

Additionally, the forthcoming SkyDrive update should add into the mix support for OpenDocument Formats, including .odt, .odp, and .ods, in addition to allowing the creation of Microsoft Office’s Open XML formats, such as .docx, .xlsx, .pptx.

As previously mentioned, Microsoft is also rumored to plan the release of new SkyDrive applications for Windows and Mac users. It is expected to offer access to files and folders on the computer using the SkyDrive interface.

The next SkyDrive update might also bring along a URL Shortening service, so that direct link to files and folders stored on SkyDrive will not be as long as before.

Other features expected to make it to SkyDrive soon include Direct Share to Twitter (and other services), along with an increase of the individual file size limit to 300 MB (it was brought up to 100 MB in June 2011).

Clearly, all these are welcomed changes to the service, though it remains to be seen how many of them will actually become available for the end users.

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