Which Cloud Storage Is Best of 2012?

What is Cloud?

You will get all basic information and details about cloud on  http://www.knowcrazy.com/2011/01/cloud-computing.html

What is cloud storage?

• Cloud storage is a model of networked online storage where data is stored in virtualized pools of storage which are generally hosted by third parties.
• Hosting companies operate large data centers, and people who require their data to be hosted buy or lease storage capacity from them.
• The data center operators, in the background, virtualize the resources according to the requirements of the customer and expose them as storage pools, which the customers can themselves use to store files or data objects.
• Physically, the resource may span across multiple servers.
• Cloud storage services may be accessed through a web service application programming interface (API), a cloud storage gateway or through a Web-based user interface.

Why do they provide free storage?

1. Some providers earn by putting ads on their cloud storage websites.
2. Some providers earn by selling the information about what data is stored and geographical, regional and personal details of the users.
3. Some providers do provide free storage upto several GBs. They encourage people to use this services. They earn by providing premium services to organizations and motivate users by providing free services.

My top 18 free cloud storage providers:

1. Media Fire
2. Sky Drive
3. Google Drive
4. Drop Box
5. Box
6. Sugar Sync
7. Zumo Drive
8. Team Drive
9. Ubuntu One
10. IDrive
11. Open Drive
12. Syncplicity
13. Spider Oak
14. 4Shared
15. Adrive
16. Ant Drive
17. File Factory
18. Badongo

Comparison chart between various cloud storage providers by PC World: