Google Docs rebranded as a Cloud Storage Option – Johnny Mnemonic gets an Upgrade

Cowards die many times before their deaths;

The valiant never taste of Death but once.

Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, II, 2

Google has decided that their answer to WordPad or at least a Microsoft Word wanabee was not good enough. So they are upgrading it to Cloud Storage status, Johnny Mnemonic (1995) Style as per the article “Google about to launch cloud storage service through Google Docs”, published SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 by JEFFREY VAN CAMP, DigitalTrends. Guess DropBox may have some competition, as Google Docs, albeit sporting 1GB of Online Storage was never easy to use.

The below screenshot provided by MG Siegler of TechCrunch in the article “Google Drive is coming”, published September 24 2011 MG Siegler, TechCrunch is visual evidence of its coming.  Clearly it will be Cloud-Based, the main reason why it caught my eye.

Thus, I will have to remove the “DropBox Clone” mindset I have as this is a creature more akin to the Amazon Cloud Drive as described in my blog article entitled “Amazon Cloud Drive and the Music Industry - Apples, Lions, Tigers and Bears” or the Apple iCloud as per my blog article entitled “Apple iCloud and WWDC - Iron Eagle to be Top Gun in the Dangerzone”.

Despite scant details (no official name, no capacity limit, no pricing), the following is known:

1.      Google Cloud Drive will be a tabbed option inside of Gmail, much as is the case with Google Docs

2.      Google Android App for syncing smartphones, PC's and Laptops to Google Cloud Drive

3.      Cloud-Based with a Browser-centric  interface

4.      Drives will be at “drive.google.com”

5.      Support for Google Android Ice Cream and possibly Google Chrome [my assumption!!]

I have a DropBox account and I love it, especially as it stands up to the scrutiny of newer services such as Amazon Cloud Drive as per my Geezam Blog article entitled “Why Amazon Cloud Drive, the DropBox Clone, is Legal”.

So before I give up certain for uncertain or “Puss inna bag” [Jamaican colloquial], just because Google splashes their brand name across their service, here is my personally wish list for this coming DropBox competitor is that it will sport the following features:

1.      Drag-and-Drop Uploading or a Synchronized Folder Uploading like DropBox and not like Google Music or Amazon Cloud Drive

2.      Ability to download you files at your leisure, again like DropBox

3.      More free storage, possibly in the 10GB Range (wishful thinking there) unlike DropBox

4.      Synchronization with Google+ Social Network

5.      Fully Cloud-Based and not requiring the installation of a program on your computer

6.      Streaming Capable

7.      Advertising based model to subsidize its usage

8.      Subscription Paid Business Accounts separate from Free Subsidized Student Accounts with more features

9.      Ability for Business Accounts to support Web Hosting, spawning a renaissance of Cloud-based Web Hosting Services

10.  Higher level of security than juts passwords i.e. Voice Recognition, Facial Recognition

11.  CRC (Cyclic Redundancy check) Certificate issued on upload and download as described in my blog article entitled “Digicel's Cloud Backup Service and Tier III Certification - Data Integrity via CRC is the Devil's Advocate”

This product upgrade to Google Docs is long in coming, but much appreciated. Combine this with the possibility of a Google Chrome OS for Tablets as stated in my blog article entitled “Google Chrome OS for Tablets Coming - Around the World in 80 Days” and Cloud-Based smartphones on the horizon as per my blog article entitled “AliBaba and the Cloud-Based Aliyun OS - Lady Gaga's Low-Cost smartphone”.

Now the picture begins to stabilize a bit. Google Cloud Drive is not just a stab at the same market as Apple iCloud or Amazon Web Services or even DropBox. It may really be a redefining of Cloud-Based Services and a build-out of the backend support for these products soon to make their debut from Google to support their Chromebook line and complete the Google Chrome OS and Google Android OS.

Much in the same way Telecom Provider Digicel here in Jamaica is slowly branching away from just Backup Storage into other Cloud-Based Services, such as VoIP (Voice over IP) Cloud Telephony, soon to make Landline extinct a described in my Geezam Blog article entitled “Digicel Cloud Telephony to Make Switched Voice Extinct”.

An upgrade and Business Model for Cloud-Based Storage that is sure to make many a Business or Student into very happy Data Couriers, Johnny Mnemonic (1995) Style.

Stay tuned folks!