Microsoft will downgrade all plans for its cloud storage service OneDrive. The company will lower the storage capacity of free accounts from 15GB to 5GB and will put restrictions on the unlimited storage accounts that came with Office 365. The changes will go in effect early 2016.
Because some users abused Microsoft's cloud storage service and backed up entire HDDs, movie collections and DVR recordings, the company has decided to it had to make changes. Some users uploaded up to 75TB to the service which according to Microsoft is 14.000 more than the average user stored. In a blog announcing the changes Microsoft writes, "Instead of focusing on extreme backup scenarios, we want to remain focused on delivering high-value productivity and collaboration experiences that benefit the majority of OneDrive users."
And this means no more unlimited storage for Office 365 Home, Personal or University subscribers. Instead of unlimited storage they will now get 1TB of cloud storage. Microsoft will no longer offer 100GB and 200GB accounts to new users and replaces these with a 50GB plan for $1.99.
Users that currently have a free plan with OneDrive will be downgraded from 15GB to 5GB and the 15GB storage bonus when users backup movies and pictures from their camera will also be discontinued. However Microsoft offers a free year Office 365 Personal with 1TB OneDrive storage to make up for it. To get the free year, a credit card is required nevertheless.
Users that currently exceed any one the storage limits will no longer be able to upload new files and can download the currently stored files for at least 12 months after the changes go in effect.
Microsoft offers Office 365 consumers a pro-rated refund when they feel the the subscription no longer meets their needs.
