Google is close to launching an online storage service, something that could be ready for public consumption in as soon as a few weeks. So says today’s WSJ, at least. The service, which doesn’t have a final name (though the very Windows-sounding “My Stuff” as well as “GDrive” were thrown around), would offer users the ability to store all their junk—documents, photos, videos, music files—on Google’s servers. Ignore that you can essentially do that with Gmail right now.
The big question, after thanking Google for its foresight in gifting us mere mortals such an awe-insipiring service, is whether or not the company will run ads alongside it. Will Google look at the files you upload to its service—”Beirut – Nantes.mp3″—and offer ads promising “affordable French holiday packages” and the like? Also, what if users start uploading copyrighted material? The RIAA/MPAA & Co. certainly wouldn’t appreciate that.
And no, Google has not officially confirmed the service’s existence. This is all wild, Tuesday morning speculation.
Google Plans Service to Store Users’ Data [Wall Street Journal]
Many people have blindly believed Google will dominate the Internet industry. which is not really the case. In fact, out of the search market, Google has not been successful. This doesn’t hurt for Google to get a lot of media exposure. Taking for example, GDrive was rumored for years… but the real online storage king is always a small innovator, not a big behemoth like Google. I recommend everybody to try DriveHQ Online Storage and Online Backup service (www.drivehq.com). I feel the usability, the group and sub-group file sharing, the advanced folder synchronization features are really killer apps. Even if Google launches its online storage service, it will be too late to catch up.