Google has finally joined the ranks of cloud storage servers by creating their own version - Google Drive. It has been anticipated for some time, but delays have held it back. It has finally been released and here are some of the things that users can expect to see with Google Drive.

Free Storage

Users get 5GB of storage for free. For most people, that will be plenty to store photos, documents, and files. They can keep all of their important information on Google Drive and even scan regular paperwork for backup.

For those who need more storage, prices are reasonable. At only $2.49 a month you can get 25GBs of storage, and prices increase with the plan. Your Gmail storage will also increase to the same amount if you choose to upgrade.

Powerful Search Capabilities

Google has created their Webapp to use OCR (Optical Character Recognition), which allows you to search for text in PDF and other files. This makes it easier to find what you need without searching through every document.

Google Drive is integrated with Google Docs, so the files in your Docs folder will automatically show up in Drive, and vice versa. This can save you time moving files from one place to another.

Use It Anywhere

You can access your files from your own or any other computer. You can also download an app for your Android device; an app for iOS devices is in the works. It works on both PCs and Macs. So, there it is, available for virtually anyone who wants cloud storage.

Do More with Google Drive

Google has worked with other developers to utilize Drive with other apps. You can send faxes and edit videos right from Drive, instead of having to move or copy it, and then move it back. You can easily download photos or videos on the web through Drive. In addition, you can share items with friends and family by using a link instead of moving a large file.

While Google admits that many of the capabilities are still in the early stages and there are some kinks to iron out, they stress that it will get even better in time. It is competing directly with Dropbox by offering as much and more, at a lower price. However, it must also compete with other storage servers, including Box.

Since the initial storage is free, there will be plenty of users to try it out. What everyone will have to wait for are the third-party apps that will make the storage even more versatile. It may have taken longer than planned for Google to start competing in the cloud storage market, but it looks like they plan to be the leaders.

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