UPDATED 15:34 EDT / MAY 14 2018

APPS

Google One is Alphabet’s new take on cloud storage

Google Inc. is preparing to roll out a major overhaul of its cloud storage service that will up the ante against the competition in more ways than one.

The upgrade, which the technology giant previewed today, is set to launch under the brand Google One. It will replace the paid consumer editions of Google Drive currently on offer. The cloud storage service will retain its present name for all other purposes, but the user experience is set to change in a big way.

The first enhancement coming down the pipe is a new live support experience. Users will gain the ability to contact Google’s customer care staff via phone, email and chat at any time of day, even if it’s the weekend. The company’s personnel will be available to handle inquiries not only about Google One but also its other consumer products.

Access to support teams is set to be included with every Google One subscription. There will be a total of six plans with between 100 gigabytes and 30 terabytes of storage space. The lineup is set to include a new 200-gigabyte tier priced at $2.99 a month, plus a discounted successor to Google Drive’s current 2-terabyte plan that will come in at $9.99 a month.

The way consumers can use these plans is changing, too. Google said that it will provide the option of sharing storage space with up to five family members at no extra cost, the same number Microsoft Corp. allows with OneDrive in the Home version of Office 365.

The core features of Google Home are set to be complemented by a number of more creative perks. The technology giant divulged plans to provide subscribers with “extras” via its other products, such as Google Play app credits and discounts redeemable at hotels that show up in search results.

Google One will roll out in the U.S. over the next few months. An international launch is set to follow sometime later this year.

The upgrade comes just a few days after Google revamped the Google Drive interface. The refreshed frontend is intended to align the service more closely with Gmail, which received a Material Design-inspired look in April as part of a major update that also brought an expanded feature set.

Image: Google

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