Microsoft has announced radical changes to its OneDrive cloud storage service, ending unlimited storage for Office 365 users. Free storage is also being decreased from 15GB to 5GB for all users. The reason for the scaling back of storage comes after Microsoft found that a few customers were using up to 75TB of cloud storage from a single account:
Since we started to roll out unlimited cloud storage to Office 365 consumer subscribers, a small number of users backed up numerous PCs and stored entire movie collections and DVR recordings. In some instances, this exceeded 75 TB per user or 14,000 times the average.
These are the changes prescribed by Microsoft:
- We're no longer planning to offer unlimited storage to Office 365 Home, Personal, or University subscribers. Starting now, those subscriptions will include 1 TB of OneDrive storage.
- 100 GB and 200 GB paid plans are going away as an option for new users and will be replaced with a 50 GB plan for $1.99 per month in early 2016.
- Free OneDrive storage will decrease from 15 GB to 5 GB for all users, current and new. The 15 GB camera roll storage bonus will also be discontinued. These changes will start rolling out in early 2016.
The Redmond giant has mentioned that customers that exceed the new quotas will have access to their files for at least 12 months, following which it will scale back the storage:
- If you are an Office 365 consumer subscriber and have stored in excess of 1 TB, you will be notified of this change and will be able to keep your increased storage for at least 12 months.
- If you are an Office 365 consumer subscriber and find that Office 365 no longer meets your needs, a pro-rated refund will be given. To learn more visit the FAQ.
- If you are using more than 5 GB of free storage, you will continue to have access to all files for at least 12 months after these changes go into effect in early 2016. In addition, you can redeem a free one-year Office 365 - Personal subscription (credit card required), which includes 1 TB of OneDrive storage.
- Current customers of standalone OneDrive storage plans (such as a 100 or 200 GB plans) are not affected by these changes.
Microsoft has additional information regarding the changes here. What do you guys think of the upcoming changes to OneDrive? Will you continue using the service?
Source: OneDrive blog
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Rainbow Six Siege and toxicity: Why censorship is not the solution
Over the past few years, the word "toxicity" has been thrown around when people want to dismiss groups they have no interest in hearing from. However, dismissing others has transformed into silencing them, which has had serious side effects.
Can't decide which AMD Radeon RX 6000 GPU to buy? We can help.
AMD has five new RX 6000 graphics cards that have been released or are set to release soon, and you might be wondering which one is going to be the best fit for your build.
China is slowing down NVIDIA's ARM acquisition
If you thought Brussels was NVIDIA's greatest obstacle to clearing its ARM acquisition, think again: China's slowing the process as well.
Expand your creative options with these Windows apps for digital art
Digital drawing and painting software can be intimidating and expensive. Here are the ones we think stand out as the best, regardless of skill or budget.