Cloud storage in business today
Cloud storage can be a lifesaver in the business world. Think about it – how much time have you spent fumbling around with USB’s and cables trying to sync files on to a phone or tablet so that you can have portable access whenever you need it? Or been working on a huge file for a team project and need to share it with them quickly but it’s too large to email? Those problems are solved with the advent of cloud storage and data sync apps like Microsoft’s Skydrive. The Android version of this popular app has just been released, adding to the offerings already available on Windows Phone and iOS.
SkyDrive for Android allows users to manage and have access to documents, spreadsheets, pictures and video files at any time from a phone, computer or another Android app. Users choose the files that they want synced and they become readily available for personal and group use from any of these access points. For example, if there are multiple videos you need to share with a colleague, you can choose to sync those files, go to lunch, log into the SkyDrive app on your Android and play them from your phone.
Rather than cramming files into limited space on a phone or tablet for the sake of portability and ease of access, users store their files on a cloud and can view them immediately through the app without worrying about emailing the files to themselves or storing them on a USB. Multiple users can also group edit documents and sync them to the cloud, as well as create and edit documents straight from their browsers.
One noted pain point for some users is the app’s inability for all mobile platforms to download content for a later offline viewing, but its list of strong features, including its 7GB of free storage, make it a great option for business people. SkyDrive also offers a “fetch” option where if the user forgets to sync a file, they can still access files stored on their home PC and retrieve any file from there as long as the computer is turned on. Business is always on the move so it’s of huge benefit to have constant access to files from multiple locations without the stress and worry over the logistics of how to transport them.
