Updated: July 14, 2020 (February 24, 2014)

  Analyst Report

New Names for Online File and Office Services

My Atlas / Analyst Reports

206 wordsTime to read: 2 min
Rob Helm by
Rob Helm

As managing vice president, Rob Helm covers Microsoft collaboration and content management. His 25-plus years of experience analyzing Microsoft’s technology... more

New names apply to Microsoft-hosted file storage and Office services. Corresponding on-premises technologies in the SharePoint Server and the Office Web Apps server software will be renamed when their next versions ship, probably in late 2014 or in 2015.

In connection with the new names, Microsoft launched an updated OneDrive service for consumers that includes video sharing and photo backup improvements, and a referral feature that enables users to earn extra storage by recruiting others. A stand-alone, free Office Online service also launched to promote the renamed Office Web Apps to consumers; the technology was previously only available as part of other services such as SkyDrive and SharePoint Online.

(The OneDrive name change follows a lawsuit and settlement with BSkyB, a U.K. entertainment and communications firm, which contended that the SkyDrive name infringed on its trademarks.)

The OneDrive blog is at blog.onedrive.com. The Office Online announcement is at blogs.office.com/2014/02/19/introducing-office-online.

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