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Windows Live Skydrive is an online file hosting service. It allows its users to store content, collaborate on and share files. Skydrive accounts can be accessed from anywhere, including one's mobile device. Any type of file can be stored in private, public, or shared folders. Publicly shared files do not require a Windows Live login in order to be accessed.

Skydrive offers a VERY generous amount of online storage for free- 25 GB. Individual files are limited to 100 MB. Users can also create new Microsoft documents since Skydrive links to the web app versions of Word, Excel and Powerpoint. SkyDrive is developed using HTML5, so files can be uploaded via simple and intuitive drag and drop functions.

Window's SkyDrive, previously called Windows Live Folders, is a Microsoft product introduced in August 2007. SkyDrive is a reliable and stable service offering online file storage. As of 2008 Windows Live SkyDrive was available in 62 countries. In 2008, Microsoft increased the capacity of an individual SkyDrive account from 5 GB to 25 GB.

In 2011, Microsoft released a SkyDrive app for iOS and Windows Mobile. These apps are available in the App Store and Windows Phone Marketplace respectively.

Skydrive's main differentiators are that it offers a free 25 GB storage product and is developed by computing giant Microsoft. In addition, it offers private, public and shared files for its users. It integrates seamlessly with Hotmail, Office Web Apps and Office Desktop versions, making this a must-have for any Microsoft user.

In true Microsoft fashion, Skydrive is simple and straightforward in its appearance. It is an extremely responsive and speedy web app that is easy to use and useful. For any PC user, Skydrive will require zero learning curve. Icons are mapped and identical to any other Microsoft environment.

Users require a Windows Live ID to login to Skydrive. Live ID's provide users access to SkyDrive, Hotmail, Messenger, XBox Live and other Microsoft products. Registering for a live ID is free and requires just a username and email address. Once a user has that they can access Skydrive.

SkyDrive provides 25 GB of online storage for free. To compete with Google Docs and keep an edge with the Microsoft suite of office products, Microsoft should only maintain this offering. There are no plans to charge for it later on.

Skydrive is a highly recommended tool for anyone who has files they want to share or store. Skydrive's integration with Microsoft Office Web Apps also makes this tool extremely useful and valuable. It offers a relatively large storage capacity of 25 GB (FOR FREE!) and it offers integration with the web app versions of the Microsoft Office suite.
Best of all, it is free. Did we mention 25 GB for free?? Microsoft's generous allowance makes this app 5-stars!

• Office Web Apps- Allows for editing Microsoft Office files directly in a web browser
• Office Desktop App Integration- allows for using online and desktop versions simultaneously
• Integration with Hotmail
• Ingreation with Bing
• Allows files to download to .zip file
• It uses RSS ( Really Simple Syndication) technology

Windows Live Skydrive video

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