Microsoft considers new names for SkyDrive after Sky battle

Microsoft is reportedly trying out potential new names for SkyDrive after losing a legal battle with Sky, with possible candidates rumoured to include NewDrive, BingDrive and FetchDrive.

Windows blogger Paul Thurrott claims the SkyDrive’s new name is NewDrive. LiveSide has reported that the URL www.newdrive.com pointed to SkyDrive, but the link is now dead.

Before we get too excited, Microsoft has form in using ‘New’ as a placeholder or internal codename: Hotmail was internally dubbed Newmail before it was publically rechristened Outlook.com.

WMPoweruser reports that BingDrive and FetchDrive are also in the running. Honestly Microsoft, stop trying to make ‘fetch’ happen.

Back in July a UK court ruled that the naming of Microsoft’s SkyDrive cloud storage service infringed on British Sky Broadcasting Group’s Sky trademark, and that Microsoft should change the name to avoid confusion. As a result of this ruling, Microsoft is changing the name of SkyDrive across the board, and not just in Britain.

The timing of the change is unconfirmed, with Sky agreeing to let Microsoft keep using the name for a “reasonable period of time, to allow for an orderly transition to a new brand.”

At the time of writing, Microsoft has not responded to request for comment.

SkyDrive stores your files online, so you can access and share them whenever you have an Internet connection, on your Windows PC or tablet, or on your Windows Phone phone. Originally named Windows Live Folders, the service was launched in 2007.

What new name should should Microsoft adopt for SkyDrive? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook wall.

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