Mobile cloud storage services allow a smartphone user to create, backup and organize their files, folders, music, and photos. The services are similar to other cloud computing models and services. Usually, the storage providers offer a limited free usage tier and charge for additional storage space. Some of the smartphone manufacturers include their own mobile cloud storage service and app with their product. There are various aspects of using these services, some of them are advantages, while some of them are disadvantages.
Cost
The cost per GB for the cloud storage services for smartphones is comparable if we compare the price of micro SD cards of 128GB storage space. Paying $12 per year for 5 years for 50GB is equivalent to the cost of buying 400 GB space on a micro SD card. Usually, the manufacturer’s own mobile cloud storage service provides extended functions, such as Samsung Cloud with Samsung Galaxy make it possible to watch the gallery from another device.
Backup
Mobile cloud storage services are most secure when we will think about theft and physical destruction of the smartphone and micro SD card. It is a time taking process to regularly manually take a backup of a smartphone on the laptop.
---
Security
Stealing a micro SD card from a smartphone is the easiest theft on this planet. While most of the cloud storage services for smartphones are enough to secure today, questions about vulnerabilities exist for DropBox, Google Drive etc cloud storages. Many smartphone users depend on free Dropbox cloud storage. There may be some technical difference between iCloud, Samsung Cloud with Dropbox, Google Drive etc but iCloud, Samsung Cloud-like services have an increased risk of being targeted by the hackers as they are private cloud with the users whose identity usually known.
Features
Many smartphone users are not aware of the features of different cloud storage services such as enabling offline viewing, file restoration, file-level security controls and so on.
Durability
Micro SD cards are less durable than a standard cloud storage service simply because, in the case of a cloud storage service, the providers are using a data centre setup with sysadmins who continuously work behind. The health of a micro SD card is rarely monitored by the users.
Battery life
A smartphone using a micro SD card will suck slightly less battery when compared to a smartphone using cloud storage.
Conclusion
Because of various advantages in using a cloud storage service, most of the users at least use the free tier. With limited resources available on smartphones, the mobile cloud storage services originally designed for desktops force our mobile devices to work more. We can conclude that the cloud storage services for smartphones are best for backup (on the remote server) purpose while the micro SD cards are best for offline usage.
