Weekly Cloud Storage Roundup

This will be the first in a series of aggregated news and information about the rapidly evolving cloud storage market.  Got cloud storage news?  Tweet it to @cloudblog!

Microsoft Launches Windows Azure Drive – previously (and suspiciously) code-named “Xdrive,” Microsoft has pushed an NTFS-formatted virtual hard drive service into a wider CTP.  According to Windows Azure Storage Architect Brad Calder, users will be able to run applications in the cloud…

Carbonite Reaches Out to Small Business – The consumer online backup tool finally unwraps a long awaited business program, Carbonite Pro, offering backup storage at $0.50 per GB per month.  The storage pricing matches the MozyPro offer, but the Boston-based firm has upped the ante by removing per device licensing fees.

Zumodrive and HP Link Up for CloudDrive – Following the Upline debacle, HP has dipped its toe back in the cloud storage water by offering the CloudDrive service on netbooks, powered by tiny Zumodrive.  The aforementioned platform has been lauded for their unique approach to desktop integration, and the ease of use in accessing the cloud via native applications, such as iTunes.  Expect the other OEMs to quickly follow suit.  iPadDrive, anyone?

Box.net Offers Cloud-based Content Management – Along with the exposure of an online document viewer, Box.net now claims an edge over Microsoft Sharepoint.