Microsoft launches cloud storage service SkyDrive

The August 29 news, according to TechCrunch, earlier this month, Microsoft unveiled a thoroughly redesigned cloud storage service SkyDrive that conforms to the look and feel of the WINDOWS8 Metro user interface. Microsoft also pledged to launch its first official Android version of SkyDrive application soon.

Now the app has appeared in Google App store Google Play. This Android application provides almost the same functionality as Microsoft Windows Phone version SkyDrive and iOS version SkyDrive. To use the application, Android users must run Android2.3 and above, but Microsoft points out that the Android4.0 system works best.

As with Windows Phone and iOS apps, the Android app gives users easy access to files stored in the service. Users can also see a list of recently opened files, as well as files shared by others. Users can also use other Android applications to open files and upload them from Android devices to SkyDrive. However, the application cannot cache local replicas for offline use.

While it is strange that Microsoft is publishing apps to rival platforms such as iOS, Android and OS X, the company has recently made some efforts to expand the range of services such as SkyDrive or OneNote. Since SkyDrive is in a sense a hub for many of Microsoft's Web programs, such as the Office Web version, and the cornerstone of its online projects, it makes sense to try the service as much as possible.

Microsoft competes directly with SugarSync, Dropbox, Google's Google Drive and Apple's icloud service through SkyDrive. SkyDrive provides new users with more free storage space (up to 7GB) and provides extra space at lower prices relative to competitive platforms.

(Responsible editor: The good of the Legacy)