Multiple Significant Changes For OneDrive & OneDrive for Business Cloud Storage
OneDrive, the Microsoft Cloud storage service previously known as SkyDrive, has been going through a variety of changes for the better lately.
File Size Limits Going Up
Individual file size upload limits for cloud services varies widely. OneDrive has a 2GB per file limit, Dropbox has a 10GB limit and Google Drive has a far more generous 5TB limit. OneDrive is now gradually being adjusted across all accounts to allow considerably higher per file size limits though it is not yet known how high the file size limit will rise to.
A Microsoft spokesperson spoke of “removing” as opposed to “increasing” the individual file size limits, but further clarification has not been provided yet. It is also not clear whether an active subscription to Office 365 is required to enjoy the lifted file limits.
OneDrive For Business Storage Limits Jump
OneDrive for Business has seen its storage per user leap up from 25GB to 1TB per person. This change is reflected across all Office 365 ProPlus customer accounts. The 1TB of online storage will be included in every ProPlus subscription.
Microsoft plans to move corporate customers over from OneDrive to OneDrive for Business in the coming months. A separate subscription to OneDrive or an active Office 365 subscription will enable the option to transfer to the business service later in the year. If a customer lacks such subscriptions currently, steep discounts are being currently offered in some markets.
OneDrive for Android Platform-Exclusive Improvements
OneDrive has always been distinctly separate from OneDrive for Business which was at one stage a separately developed product from a different team. The latest Android version of OneDrive merges personal and business within the same app (previously the Android OneDrive app only handled personal OneDrive accounts not OneDrive for Business accounts).
The change is a natural one since Microsoft merged the two separate development teams responsible for OneDrive and OneDrive for Business. The latter was ostensibly a feature used with the Office 365 or SharePoint subscription services and considered a completely separate product at the time.
Behind the scenes, data is still stored separately in the consumer OneDrive and OneDrive for Business but on the front-end it's now easier for users to work with all their files regardless of whether they're accessing their personal finance spreadsheet or the latest PDF report being prepared from home for a meeting in the office tomorrow morning.
Security has been beefed up with the Droid version too with the inclusion of a four-digit security keypad option to access the app (similar to the option already present in Dropbox for Android).
iOS and Windows Phone
Android is getting the first overhaul of OneDrive personal and professional. The OneDrive app for iOS is soon to be updated to provide a similar merging of personal and professional, with the Windows Phone app to follow suit a few months later.
The OneDrive for iOS app which is compatible with iPad and iPhone devices has improved search facilities using a swipe down gesture. There is also now an “All Photos” viewing option. iOS device owners will have to wait for the merged OneDrive / OneDrive for Business feature though.
The OneDrive for Windows Phone 8.1 is also getting an update to make it easier to restore files accidentally placed into the recycle bin. Several bugs have also been addressed with the latest version.
