Rumor: Is Google Launching GDrive Cloud Storage This Year?

Rumor alert: The Wall Street Journal is hinting that Google is finally, really and completely getting ready to launch a so-called GDrive — a cloud storage offering that would take on Dropbox and Box directly.

The WSJ attributes its story to the extremely vague “people familiar with the matter.” As described by these sources, Google would offer GDrive, or perhaps just “Drive,” as a smartphone app and web interface. Upload your data from one, and it’s accessible anywhere else. As described, it sounds a heck of a lot like the competitors I mentioned above.

And since this is Google, Drive likely would be free, with additional storage costing a premium. Now, to be clear, Google Docs has technically allowed users to upload any dang file they’d like for some time now. But it required third-party software to turn it from a feature into an actual solution, and this sounds far and away like a more streamlined solution.

Assuming this isn’t yet another false start for Google cloud storage, GDrive could provide an edge to Google Apps Authorized Resellers. It would just be more value wrapped into the Google Apps suite — and potentially could help capture or recapture customers from Box, which has been accelerating its enterprise strategy.

With cloud file sync one of the easiest sells (and thus one of the fastest-growing market segments), it’s no wonder Google is potentially getting into the game. That could translate to big partner success.