To really succeed, Google would need mobile and desktop apps to rival Dropbox or SugarSync - and with Android in its pocket, this is where Google Drive could really shine.

There's no confirmation that Google Drive will use the same pricing structure, but in all likelihood it will.īeing cheaper than the competition is only part of the equation, though. In short, Google is 10 times cheaper than the competition. In comparison, Dropbox is $9.99 per month for 50GB, SugarSync is $4.99 per month for 30GB, and Box.net is $9.99 per month for just 25GB. You might not be aware of this, but Google already offers additional storage space for Docs, Gmail, and Picasa at very competitive prices, starting at $5 per year for 20GB, or $20 per year for 80GB. This will be a useful addition to Google's web services, but hardly a killer feature - until you look at the pricing for additional space. It is possible that Google's revised privacy policy, which comes into effect at the beginning of March, makes this kind of unification possible. Presumably, Google Drive will show you a directory view of all the files you have stored on Google's servers (pictured right), from photos to music to email attachments - kind of like a revamped and omnipresent Google Docs. According to people familiar with the matter, however, our wait is almost over: Google's Hard Drive In The Sky is coming soon, possibly ' within weeks (Opens in a new window).' (paywalled)įeature-wise, it sounds like Google Drive will be comparable to Dropbox, with free basic storage (5GB?) and additional space for a yearly fee. It's one of Silicon Valley's greatest pink elephants: Why doesn't Google offer a cloud storage service to rival Dropbox, Box.net, or Microsoft's SkyDrive? Google has the most internet-connected servers in the world, the largest combined storage of any web company, and already offers photo storage (Picasa), document storage (Docs), music storage (Music), but for some reason it has never offered a unified Google Drive.

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