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With growing Internet dependence, people all over the world are seeking ideas to make information access easier, more reliable, secure and enjoyable. To find out the recent trends in online storage services and to sneak peek on the recent announcement of Microsoft India's Windows Live Suite of Services, SDA India in conversation with Samir Saraiya, Product Head, Windows Live Services at Microsoft India.

Q: Samir could you introduce yourself to our readership and also brief us on your current projects in pipeline?

A: Hi, I’m Product Head, Windows Live Services, Microsoft India and primarily responsible for bringing Windows Live products and services to India, understanding what consumers in India need and developing products specifically for this market. Along with my team, we work towards enabling the non-internet using population in India to come on to the internet through our innovative products.

Q: Could you explain us Microsoft India's Windows Live Suite of Services in detail especially the recent SkyDrive service?

A: Windows Live is a set of innovative yet familiar tools that work seamlessly together on the web PCs, mobile phones, and other devices. Windows Live enhances the Windows experience by helping people communicate, share, and stay safe online across the web and mobile devices.

Windows Live SkyDrive offers users 5GB of online storage space. Users can store documents, music and pictures on Windows Live SkyDrive and can have an access to this data anywhere, anytime where you have web access, meaning you don't need a laptop or memory cards to retrieve your files. Each upload has a limit of 50 MB.

The service has three options for storing and sharing photos and files. You can choose to either have sole personal access, to share files with people you select, or make them public to anyone on the internet. When sharing files with others in the Shared area, you can set permissions for each person you share with, either allowing them to add and change files, or only to view the files.

Q: Tell us in what way using WL SkyDrive could benefit the users?

A: It’s always a hassle for everyone these days to retrieve music or photographs or documents when something urgent comes up. We reach for our CDs, search through computers. And most of the time you may not have access to the computers or CDs where you stored them.

Students who need to save their project reports, assignments or presentations find it hassle to retrieve data from emails, USB devices and a lot of people end up losing USB devices and CDs get corrupted or damaged easily.
Also, the storage device may fall in to wrong hands, and then the privacy of the user is affected. Now, with Windows Live SkyDrive, they can access their documents online and share files with friends. Working people need not carry portable hard disks and save data they need on laptops all the time when on the move. They can access their documents online. Photographers need not juggle several memory cards and save photographs on CDs and lose track of where they saved their data.

Therefore, online storage is the safest and easiest way to store and share documents especially large files, which cannot be shared on email.

Lastly, share with anyone and everyone is the best way to showcase products, catalogues, etc and has a strong usage base, e.g. a photographer who wants to showcase his portfolio.

Q: What are the requirements for using WL SkyDrive?

A: All one needs is a Windows Live or Hotmail or msn Id that is fairly is easy as the product is free for the end user.

Q: What makes WL SkyDrive different from the other online storage services that are available in the market?

A: With 5 GB storage, automatic folders, easy upload, permission settings that ensure added security and a convenient Read and Edit feature, it is one of the most consumer friendly products in the market.

Since Windows Live SkyDrive is part of the Windows Live suite of services, which has one of the largest communities on the web, it easier for people to share documents and use multiple Windows Live Services that complement each other.

Q: “Sharing personal files with friends or family might make sense, but doing so with co-workers is often questionable”. What is your take on this?

A: We have foreseen the need for privacy for users and included options for storing sharing files and features to allow users to select people they wish to share files with. When sharing files with others, users can set permissions to allow them to add and change files, or only to view the files.

The decision to share personal files with coworkers is solely that of the user and it would not be fair for us to comment on this.

Q: For companies with compliance concerns, how secure is using WL SkyDrive for them?

A: We do not see compliance concerns arising as long as it is within the policies of the company to allow workers to use internet applications. This product is provided to our end customers and not targeted to Corporates.

Q: Is there anything else that you would like to add for the benefit of our readership?

A: Users can also expect more enhancements to Windows Live SkyDrive in the near future. Besides this, every month enhancements are being made to Windows Live Suite of products. In November 2007, great enhancements were introduced for popular Windows Live services - Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, and Windows Live Spaces. New fun tools such as Windows Live Photo Gallery, Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Writer, Windows Live for Windows Mobile and Windows Live OneCare Family Safety were introduced and made available in one simple download. This new generation of Windows Live is an all in one package that complements Windows Vista and desktop applications. We are continuously working to add more enhancements to Windows Live Services for users in India.