How cloud storage can help your business
Convenience and peace of mind
TRP: Is there a reason Livedrive doesn't offer free accounts?
RC: Freemium products sound great because customers can store a few of their files for free however they actually work as a negative for paying customers.
The fundamentals of a freemium model are such that the paying users need to pay for all of the free users. For example, with Livedrive Briefcase you get 2,000GB of space for £10 per month, Dropbox offers just 200GB for £12 per month. Paid-for services like Livedrive can offer far better deals to paying users because we don't have the cost of servicing millions of free users.
One reason users sign up for free products is because they don't want to pay for something they haven't used. We are aware of this and offer a 14 day trial to give customers hands-on time with the software and still offer them a low monthly or yearly fee.
TRP: Is the cloud predominantly aimed at mobile users or desktop users?
RC: Cloud storage software does offer some great benefits to mobile users. Most mobile devices have a small amount of internal storage therefore Cloud storage will enable users to access all of their files through their mobile phone or tablet.
It also enables users to edit files-on-the go, which can be great for work or personal usage. However we feel that the Cloud offers great advantages to people who have desktop computers as well. Most people keep all of their data on their desktop hard drives and therefore online backup is a key feature. Desktop computers are also great ways to edit documents or images and therefore having a sync folder on all of your computers can be a key benefit to those customers.
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TRP: How does a reseller product work within the cloud storage arena?
RC: Cloud storage is an online product and therefore selling the Cloud doesn't involve a large start-up cost or any warehouse space.
Most systems have an online dashboard which makes it easy for sellers to create customer accounts and configure the product to suit them. Some Cloud providers enable Resellers to customise the software to include their brand and make it appear as their own. In Livedrive's case we give Resellers total control of their product, enabling them to white label the software, and offer customers their own apps.
Most companies offering Reseller products also give sellers a significant discount on accounts, which enables them to compete on price with the other Cloud providers. There are a lot of people who have a use for Cloud storage but do not already have a provider and Reseller products simply enable people without a lot of technical knowledge or a high start-up capital to set up a business.
TRP: What is the main differentiator between cloud products? Is it feature or price driven?
RC: Price is definitely a consideration for most customers buying a Cloud product. One of Livedrive's main USPs is that we offer a lot of storage at a low price. However there are other things to consider when purchasing a Cloud service.
Many people want to access their files on-the-go and from multiple devices and so mobile apps and support for both Windows and Mac OSX are usually important. If a customer wants to edit their files on-the-go or automatically backup their hard drive's data it will also help them decide whether they should purchase a backup or sync product.
TRP: What do you think the future holds for Cloud storage?
RC: We can only guess what the future will hold but we are confident that the Cloud will be integrated into more pieces of software and a larger range of devices in the next few years.
You may be able to view your favourite recipes through a Cloud connected fridge or listen to music stored on the cloud directly through a wearable device such as a watch. If there is a situation where people need to access their stored data, somebody will come up with a product that can provide the file.
We believe there will be a greater demand for software running directly on the Cloud. We currently offer photo editing and document editing through our online portal. We imagine that more companies will be offering a catalogue of online software and possibly even create operating systems in the Cloud if Chrome OS becomes popular.
The advantage to Cloud software and Cloud operating systems is that customers can buy cheaper, thinner devices without a draw back in functionality. Which is a great selling point for people on a budget or who travel a lot.
Désiré has been musing and writing about technology during a career spanning four decades. He dabbled in website builders and web hosting when DHTML and frames were in vogue and started narrating about the impact of technology on society just before the start of the Y2K hysteria at the turn of the last millennium.