Microsoft on Friday quietly took the wraps off a free online storage service that it says is the final piece of its Windows Live Internet services portfolio. Windows Live SkyDrive offers users up to 5 GB of free storage in password-protected servers. Users can also create folders accessible to friends, colleagues, or the general public. They can access their folders from any computer connected to the Internet by signing on to their Windows Live account.
SkyDrive had been undergoing testing for the past several months, Microsoft said.
Windows Live now offers a range of online services in addition to SkyDrive, including tools for e-mail, blogging, instant messaging, and social networking.
The effort is part of Microsoft's attempt to keep pace with Google and acquisition target Yahoo in the growing Web services market.
