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Is Google running out of storage? In the last 18 months they've seemed to complete a 180 degree turn on their "store all the things" policy.

kjakm 6y ago
I wonder if they're getting a lot less value out of the data than they thought they would (I'm presuming data to aid in targeting is how they justify free unlimited storage)?
- tempest_ 6y ago
  Likely that and when they made the initial offer they made an estimate of average storage per user which was probably correct at the time but has changed as users have begun to increasing use more cloud storage with larger files.
- dawnerd 6y ago
  Those business agreements for faults supposedly didn’t allow them to use the data that way anyways. Not sure I could trust it though. Everything I upload (well just about) gets encrypted before uploaded.
- tjohns 6y ago
  Google doesn't collect any data from Workspace for Education users for targeted ads. From https://support.google.com/a/answer/139019 https://support.google.com/a/answer/139019: "Google Workspace for Education does not collect student data for advertising purposes. We scan Gmail to keep users’ mail secure. Scanning includes virus and spam protection and is 100% automated. We scan all incoming email, relevant search results, and features, such as Gmail Priority Inbox." (Disclaimer: I work at Google, but not on Workspace or Ads - I don't represent these teams.)
  - happynacho 6y ago
    >Google doesn't collect any data from Workspace for Education users for targeted ads. That doesn't mean that they don't collect data for other purposes, which include analytics and tracking on how to change the service and said data is still valuable.
IceWreck 6y ago
* Google Photos Unlimited has shut down. * Google Drive unlimited for businesses has shut down. * Google Drive unlimited for education has shut down. * Google Drive files are now deleted if you've not accessed your account recently (no definition of recent)
- jorams 6y ago
  > no definition of recent They've been very clear that it's 2 years, and they will notify you before they remove anything.
lmkg 6y ago
Could be GDPR? Storing all the data on everyone now has more potential cost than just the hard drive.
gruez 6y ago
My guess would be abuse. If you check ebay there's many offers of "lifetime unlimited google drive" accounts that use google education. A similar exploit existed for gsuite. If you bought a 5 (or 10?) seat license then your entire organization would get unlimited storage. That was discontinued as well.
- easton 6y ago
  That part was never even enforced. I have a single-seat GSuite (or, now Google Workspace Plus) account and have unlimited storage. It's the only thing keeping me on GSuite, honestly, because I really prefer Outlook to Gmail.
  - darrylb42 6y ago
    I always thought single seat accounts couldn't get unlimited storage, the cap was just higher.
philote 6y ago
Maybe they're finally capitalizing on all their locked-in users.
- s3r3nity 6y ago
  idk why this is getting downvoted - it's a legitimate criticism of the way Google will enter a market with low prices (or free services,) steal market share, and then boost prices when they have market power and/or significant user anchoring. Ex: see all the Google Photos competitors who are doing the "I told you so" roadshow when they announced the end of unlimited storage for free. Other apps couldn't compete and/or died out, and so with market share in hand Google could "raise" prices. Further, Google doesn't hide that they want to grow "services" revenue, and had mentioned it in previous investor calls. I'm guessing they're seeing the success Tim Cook has had with diversifying revenue and growing services like crazy, and now they want to leverage that channel for growth.

kjakm 6y ago

I wonder if they're getting a lot less value out of the data than they thought they would (I'm presuming data to aid in targeting is how they justify free unlimited storage)?

tempest_ 6y ago
Likely that and when they made the initial offer they made an estimate of average storage per user which was probably correct at the time but has changed as users have begun to increasing use more cloud storage with larger files.
dawnerd 6y ago
Those business agreements for faults supposedly didn’t allow them to use the data that way anyways. Not sure I could trust it though. Everything I upload (well just about) gets encrypted before uploaded.
tjohns 6y ago
Google doesn't collect any data from Workspace for Education users for targeted ads. From https://support.google.com/a/answer/139019 https://support.google.com/a/answer/139019: "Google Workspace for Education does not collect student data for advertising purposes. We scan Gmail to keep users’ mail secure. Scanning includes virus and spam protection and is 100% automated. We scan all incoming email, relevant search results, and features, such as Gmail Priority Inbox." (Disclaimer: I work at Google, but not on Workspace or Ads - I don't represent these teams.)
- happynacho 6y ago
  >Google doesn't collect any data from Workspace for Education users for targeted ads. That doesn't mean that they don't collect data for other purposes, which include analytics and tracking on how to change the service and said data is still valuable.

IceWreck 6y ago

* Google Photos Unlimited has shut down. * Google Drive unlimited for businesses has shut down. * Google Drive unlimited for education has shut down. * Google Drive files are now deleted if you've not accessed your account recently (no definition of recent)

jorams 6y ago
> no definition of recent They've been very clear that it's 2 years, and they will notify you before they remove anything.

lmkg 6y ago

Could be GDPR? Storing all the data on everyone now has more potential cost than just the hard drive.

gruez 6y ago

My guess would be abuse. If you check ebay there's many offers of "lifetime unlimited google drive" accounts that use google education. A similar exploit existed for gsuite. If you bought a 5 (or 10?) seat license then your entire organization would get unlimited storage. That was discontinued as well.

easton 6y ago
That part was never even enforced. I have a single-seat GSuite (or, now Google Workspace Plus) account and have unlimited storage. It's the only thing keeping me on GSuite, honestly, because I really prefer Outlook to Gmail.
- darrylb42 6y ago
  I always thought single seat accounts couldn't get unlimited storage, the cap was just higher.

philote 6y ago

Maybe they're finally capitalizing on all their locked-in users.

s3r3nity 6y ago
idk why this is getting downvoted - it's a legitimate criticism of the way Google will enter a market with low prices (or free services,) steal market share, and then boost prices when they have market power and/or significant user anchoring. Ex: see all the Google Photos competitors who are doing the "I told you so" roadshow when they announced the end of unlimited storage for free. Other apps couldn't compete and/or died out, and so with market share in hand Google could "raise" prices. Further, Google doesn't hide that they want to grow "services" revenue, and had mentioned it in previous investor calls. I'm guessing they're seeing the success Tim Cook has had with diversifying revenue and growing services like crazy, and now they want to leverage that channel for growth.