Google to launch free 'online hard drive' storage system to take on rivals such as Dropbox

Google to launch free 'online hard drive' storage system to take on rivals such as Dropbox - Google is on the brink of launching an online storage service that will store large files online instead of in PC hard drives, according to insider reports.

The service will be a rival to services such as Dropbox, a 'cloud' storage start-up recently valued at $4 billion.

Google's service will be called Drive - and will be free to all Google account holders, said unnamed sources speaking to the Wall Street Journal.

Google HQ: Google sources told the Wall Street Journal that the new Drive service was a response to a response to the growth of web-connected devices such as smartphones and tablets, and to 'cloud computing' services which allow people to store files online instead of in PC hard drives

Videos, documents and music will be stored remotely in Google's data centres, instead of in individual hard drives.

Google's Drive service will be free, but users who store large amounts of data will have to pay an - undisclosed - fee.

Google Documents already lets users store 1Gb of files online.

Google has spoken about launching a 'G Drive' service in the past, but the company has been tight-lipped on the subject recently.

Services such as Dropbox have become hugely popular as people increasingly use computers 'on the go' - offering simple 'cloud' storage where users can access their files from anywhere via apps or web browsers.

Dropbox's CEO Drew Houston reportedly turned down a 'nine figure' offer from Apple for the company.

Apple now offers a similar service, iCloud, which stores music, books, films and apps online, and is free to all users of iOS 5, the latest version of its mobile operating service.

Microsoft also offers similar - but paid-for - services such as Office365.

Google's service, though, is likely to be a simple, 'one stop shop' file storage system like Dropbox's, which allows users to store anything, anywhere.

Google sources told the Wall Street Journal that the service was a response to a response to the growth of web-connected devices such as smartphones and tablets, and to 'cloud computing' services which allow people to store ( dailymail.co.uk )