'Google One' Simplifies Internet Storage With New Plans, Perks

Google is rebranding and upgrading its paid cloud storage service, now dubbed Google One.

Google is moving paying Google Drive customers to the upcoming Google One. As part of that change, the tech giant will offer a $9.99-per-month plan with 2TB of storage, up from 1TB, and introduce a $2.99 plan for access to 200GB.

The idea is to simplify branding; right now, Google Drive covers the free and paid internet storage service. With Google One—which covers Google Drive, Gmail, Google Photos, and anything else you want to upload—Google Drive will only cover the free internet storage service.

"Google Drive itself is not changing, and the way you use Drive to store and share files doesn't change," a company spokeswoman told PCMag.

Google One subscribers will get "extras," like credits on Google Play or deals on select hotels found in Google Search, with more benefits to be added over time.

Google Drive customers will upgraded to Google One automatically over the coming months (including that bump from 1TB to 2TB on the $9.99 plan). This won't affect G Suite business customers.

"Thanks to mobile phones, and new file formats like 4K video and high-res photography, people are storing more than ever before," wrote Google One's vice president Pavni Diwanji in a Monday blog post.

Google One is also introducing another highly requested feature: storage plans that can be shared with the family. Up to five family members can be added to an account, and each will have their own private storage space, Diwanji said. They'll also enjoy the same "extras."

The rollout will start in the US and then expand globally. Sign up for updates on the upcoming service here.

Industry Insight: How Will Cloud Security Evolve in 2017?