Microsoft's OneDrive team put has announced some major changes to OneDrive, including slashing the storage allotments and raising prices that has left users of the personal cloud storage angry and bewildered.
At a blog post, OneDrive team said Microsoft is backing out from its promise a year ago that OneDrive will offer unlimited storage for subscribers to Office 365 consumer and business
The blog post reads, "We're making changes to OneDrive storage plans for consumers and are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible.
"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. Instead of focusing on extreme backup scenarios, we want to remain focused on delivering high-value productivity and collaboration experiences that benefit the majority of OneDrive users."
However, The Register criticized Microsoft latest move saying that it was a complete turnaround from its pronouncement when it released the Office 2013 that strongly support cloud storage.
The web site said, "Microsoft deliberately pushed users towards OneDrive, encouraging them to embrace the new world of 'cloud and mobile.' Now here comes this sudden and drastic price increase, which looks like a classic maneuver to tempt users in with free stuff and hoist the cost once they are hooked."
Users of OneDrive have joined the chorus to show their discontent over Microsoft's decision. The users have taken to the official OneDrive feedback site appeal to "give us back our free storage" attracting more than 5,000 votes and over 1,000 comments so far.
As stated above, one of the major changes is that OneDrive will no longer offer unlimited storage to Office 365 Home, Personal, or University subscribers. Starting Nov. 2, subscribers will have a limited 1 TB of OneDrive storage.
New users will have to pay $1.99 per month in early 2016 for a 50 GB plan storage instead of the 100 GB and 200 GB plans previously offered to new subscribers. The free OneDrive storage will also be reduced from 15 GB to 5 GB for all users, both current and new. The 15 GB camera roll storage bonus will also be discontinued. These changes will start rolling out in early 2016.
Microsoft further explains, "We're taking the following steps to make this transition as easy as possible for customers: 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. 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."
Microsoft further adds that current customers of standalone OneDrive storage plans (such as a 100 or 200 GB plans) are not affected by these changes.
