The Google logo is seen at the Google headquarters in Mountain View, California. Photo: AFP/Kimihiro Hoshino
In an effort to tap the growing popularity of cloud computing, Google is reportedly getting ready to take on Dropbox with its own cloud-based storage service.
According to Wall Street Journal, "Drive allows people to store photos, documents and videos on Google's servers so that they
could be accessible from any Web-connected device and allows them to easily share the files with others, these people said. If a person wants to email a video shot from a Smartphone, for instance, he can upload it to the Web through the Drive mobile app and email people a link to the video rather than a bulky file."
"Google's Drive is one of several recent attempts by the Internet giant to catch up to smaller companies in hot new areas. Last year, the company released Google+, which aims to compete with social-media sites Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. Google Currents, a mobile-device app that lets people read news articles, was launched last fall and is viewed as a competitor to Flipboard Inc. and other such apps. Google also has developed services and bought business-reviews company Zagat to better compete with Yelp Inc," reports Wall Street Journal.
Drive, which is expected to be launched in the coming months, will be free for most consumers and business, with a premium service offered to those who want to store a large amount of files.
While the industry awaits developments on this front, Google spokesmen refused to comment.