OneDrive is a Microsoft file storage application for Android and iPhone (iOS). The program is designed to save documents securely without wasting the mobile’s memory. The app’s documents are stored in the cloud and can be shared over the mobile phone or accessed on other platforms, such as the browser or PC.
OneDrive functions include opening and saving files from other Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. You can also separate documents into folders and organize them as you want. The files are accessed only with an Internet connection, and the available storage varies according to OneDrive plans. Check below how OneDrive works and how to use the cloud on the mobile phone.
What is OneDrive?
OneDrive was launched by Microsoft in some regions in 2007 under the name SkyDrive. In the following year, the service was extended to 62 countries. The application changed its name from SkyDrive to OneDrive in 2014. The change occurred due to a lawsuit filed by the British TV Sky Broadcasting Group against Microsoft.
As the broadcaster owns brands such as Sky One, Sky Sports and Sky Movies, the technology company had to make the change to avoid a licensing agreement with BSkyB. Along with the modification, OneDrive gained unprecedented features such as automatic backup of photos taken on Android devices.
Another change is undergone by OneDrive previously pegged as a Hotmail cloud, which occurred in 2012 when Microsoft relaunched the old email address under the name Outlook.com.
READ: 10 Alternatives to WeTransfer to Send Large Files
How to use OneDrive on mobile?
To log in to OneDrive, you need to download the application for Android and iPhone and create a Microsoft account. The storage service is a kind of pen drive that allows you to save and open files on different devices without the need to occupy the device’s memory or carry the object with you to access the documents.
It is possible to synchronize files from the mobile phone or computer to OneDrive folders to access them anywhere with an Internet connection. The app also shares documents and folders with other Microsoft accounts, so that a team can operate on the same file.
In addition to these features, the user can easily find photos with automatic bookmarking, receive notifications when a shared document is edited, share a favorite photo and video albums, subscribe to and make annotations to PDF files, and even access more important files offline.
Where to access OneDrive?
OneDrive is present on the web platform (onedrive.live.com), and also available for Windows and macOS computers. The service can still be downloaded in app format by users with Android phones and iPhones.
OneDrive Plans and Prices
OneDrive makes 5 GB available for free to users of Microsoft accounts. To expand the storage, it is possible to use a paid subscription. The OneDrive 100 GB plan comes for $1.99 monthly. The application also offers the Office 365 Personal plan, which offers 1 TB and includes Office programs for $6.99 per month. Microsoft still has the 6 TB plan for $9.99 per month.
Competitors
Besides OneDrive, other programs offer cloud storage for users. Among the best-known services are iCloud, Google Drive and Dropbox. Although the applications have similar functions, each tool has specific features.
iCloud, for example, is available for iOS, macOS, and Windows. To install the application in Windows you need to configure it with the operating system. In addition, iCloud does not have productivity programs attached to the system such as Word or PowerPoint, for example.
Regarding storage plans, the brand offers 5 GB free for users. The paid services are: 50 GB for $0.99; 200 GB for $2.99 and 2 TB for $9.99.
Google Drive, besides storing files in the cloud, has several productivity tools to access online. The user can edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, and the files are automatically saved in the Google account. Another feature of the service is the sharing options: you can edit the same document as your colleague simultaneously. However, to use the services, you need to be connected to the Internet.
The application also provides 15 GB of free storage for Google account users. G Suite pricing starts as low as $6 per user per month for Basic, $12 per user per month for Business, and $25 per user per month for Enterprise.
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