News 

The online file storage service launched in beta last year, but is now openly available to the public.

Users of the service can choose to make uploaded files private, share them with selected contacts or even open them up to completely public access.

Finer control is offered with the capability to set different permission levels for each user, allowing read-only or editing access.

"Starting today, you'll be able to access all your personal files, whether they're family photos or work documents wherever you are and share them effortlessly with family, friends and colleagues," says Jonathan Hulse, group director, Windows

ADVERTISEMENT

Live. "The product is a really important building block in our software plus services vision and is part of our overall goal to give people anywhere, anytime access to their files across their PC, the web and other devices,"

The UK beta of Skydrive was launched in August last year, having previously been available in the US under the name Windows Live Folders, while Google's long-rumoured storage offering has yet to emerge.

Last month security analysts warned that spammers are using Skydrive to fool spam filters. Because the domain is well trusted by security packages, spammers are using it to host malicious code and linking to it from spam emails.

Microsoft's decision to release Skydrive tonight seems an odd one, given the company has just hogged the headlines with its announcement on its new open philosophy.