Inadvertently published notes suggest that Google is preparing a hosted storage service
Google planning GDrive storage service
/v3-uk/news/2002184/google-planning-gdrive-storage-service
08 Mar 2006, Tom Sanders in California , V3
Google is preparing to launch a hosted storage service, according to notes that the company inadvertently published as part of a PowerPoint presentation for financial analysts last week.
"The notes were deleted from the slides we posted because they were not intended for publication," Google spokeswoman Lynn Fox told vnunet.com. She declined to comment further on the services that the company is currently developing.
The notes mentioned Google's desire to host all user data such as files, emails, bookmarks and pictures on its servers rather than the user saving the information on their computers.
"We already have efforts in this direction in terms of GDrive, GDS and Lighthouse, but all of them face bandwidth and storage constraints today," the notes stated.
Offering to store this data allows users access to their data at any time and from any device, and also frees such information from Microsoft.
"This theme will help us make the client less important (thin client, thick server model) which suits our strength vis-à-vis Microsoft and is also of great value to the user," the notes said.
The unintended publication of the notes forced Google to file the event with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which stated that certain of the annotated comments were not intended to be presented at the analyst day.
The SEC filing mostly contained predictions about Google's future financial performance because the company is required by law to make such information broadly available.
Google does not need to disclose plans for future products because they do not directly affect future earnings.
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
Beta users beware
This poor guy lost all his email to an unexplained Gmail glitch, and Google isn't returning his emails:
http://blog.outer-court.com/forum/22209.html
People have blasted Bob because Gmail service is "free and you get what you pay for" and because "Gmail is still labeled 'beta'". In later posts, Bob fully acknowledges that he should have backed up his data.
But what if he were relying on Gdrive to back up his email and ran into the same problem?
It's likely to be free, it's likely to stay in "beta" for quite some time-- wouldn't Bob be just as misguided to place his trust in Google's free backup as he was to trust their free email service?
There's no real point to backing up your files unless you can count on them to be there when you need them.
Posted by John, 10 Mar 2006
Privacy Anyone
Inasmuchas this is a good feature, who's going to assure us that what we keep on Google's servers will remain in Google's server? Remember Google is a search company, by handing over your files, who's to say they won't "harvest" information about what you have in your files?
Posted by Arles, 09 Mar 2006
Great Idea
This is a fantastic idea. I look forward to the day when we have destroyed MSFT and the mighty Google controls all our information. Praise be to Larry and Sergey!! Let the infidels Gates and Balmer be hit with shoes!!
Posted by Andy Smith, 09 Mar 2006
Bloody Good!
Great idea. helps us poor folk angd gives Microsoft a much needed kick in the terminals!!
Posted by Ian, 08 Mar 2006
sounds good
what great feature we will no longer have worry about crashing the computer. good luck.
Posted by henry read, 08 Mar 2006
Google planning GDrive
Will this service be avalable to dial-up customers?
Posted by Bryan Lord, 08 Mar 2006