One of Japan’s biggest tech companies just launched its own cloud storage service β the main draw isn’t the free 10GB storage, but the unlimited transfer service
Japanese tech giant Rakuten Symphony has announced the full commercial launch of its own cloud storage service in Japan. While the 10GB free storage space it offers is decent, the real game-changer here is the unlimited file transfer service.
Aimed at both private and business customers, Rakuten drive allows users to send large files quickly and provides secure, intuitive file storage and sharing in the cloud. The service has integrated Microsoft 365 productivity apps, allowing viewing and editing of documents, presentations and spreadsheets in real time.
Rakuten Drive started life as Sendy in 2019, but was absorbed into Rakuten Symphony in 2021 when the company acquired South Korean developer Estmob. Since then, Rakuten Drive has experienced significant growth both in Japan and worldwide, but has never been commercially available until now.
Rakuten Drive PRO
βOur cloud file storage service allows users to manage their valuable personal and business files and data securely and efficiently,β said Ryan Son, CEO of Rakuten Symphony Korea.
βFrom freelancers and small business owners to large corporations, our commitment is to continue developing Rakuten Drive as a trusted and secure cloud service of choice.β
The consumer version of Rakuten Drive is integrated with Rakuten ID, a shared ID that allows Rakuten members to access multiple services. This integration allows the 100 million Rakuten members in Japan to use the service with their existing Rakuten login.
Rakuten Symphony says Rakuten Drive has strict data storage and information security policies. The company plans to continue actively developing its services and releasing additional features for the B2B market, supporting freelancers, small businesses and large enterprises. A future integration with Rakuten Points, Rakuten’s loyalty program, is also in the pipeline.
For users who need additional cloud storage and other features, Rakuten Drive PRO is also now available for $7.99 per month. This paid version increases the maximum file upload size per link to 50 GB, adds a customizable link expiration time (up to 30 days from the free version’s 48 hours), and increases cloud storage to 1 TB.