In a surprising turn of events, Microsoft has reversed its decision to impose storage limits on OneDrive and Outlook users, following intense backlash from customers. The tech giant had previously announced plans to count photos in a user’s OneDrive account against their five-gigabyte cloud-based quota, a move that didn’t sit well with its user base. According to reports, this policy was set to take effect on October 16th, causing widespread frustration among Microsoft’s South African users.
Under the now-rescinded policy, photos stored in user’s saved photo albums and OneDrive Gallery would have contributed to the limited five gigabytes of free storage. Once this limit was surpassed, users would have been unable to save new OneDrive files or receive emails in Microsoft’s free Outlook email service, a restriction that users deemed highly inconvenient.
Initially, Microsoft attempted to quell the discontent by offering a one-year free storage bonus to affected users, but this measure failed to appease the disgruntled customer base.
The controversy didn’t end with OneDrive; Microsoft’s decision to include email attachments and inline images in the five-gigabyte limit for Outlook also sparked outrage. Users lamented the fact that they were now compelled to constantly manage their attachments, limiting their ability to send and receive emails effectively. Many users felt this move was akin to “blackmail,” forcing them to purchase subscriptions to avoid the hassle of perpetual email pruning.
Critics pointed out that these changes could have driven users to rival services, most notably Google’s Gmail, which continued to offer a more generous 15GB storage limit without imposing similar stringent restrictions.
In an effort to salvage its reputation and prevent users from migrating to competitors, Microsoft has backtracked on its storage policies. This decision comes as a relief to the countless South African users who depend on Microsoft’s services for their personal and professional needs.
Here is a summary of the key events:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August | Microsoft announces plans to impose storage limits for photos in OneDrive and Outlook, causing outrage among users. |
| October 16th | Policy to count photos against the five-gigabyte limit in OneDrive set to take effect, restricting users’ ability to save files. |
| Following Days | Users express dissatisfaction, deeming Microsoft’s compensation offer insufficient and criticizing the email attachment policy change. |
| October 13th | Microsoft reverses its decision, rescinding the storage limits and alleviating concerns among South African users. |
Microsoft’s decision to backtrack on these policies reflects the power of user feedback and underscores the importance of customer satisfaction in the technology industry. South African users can now continue using OneDrive and Outlook without the looming threat of storage limitations.
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