Google Drive is a file storage and sync service, first introduced to the public by Google on April 24, 2012.Google Drive is an extension of Google Docs once activated, and replaces the URL docs.google.com with drive.google.com.There are third-party Google Drive apps which can be installed from the Chrome Web Store. These apps, running in Google Chrome, are operating on the online files, and can be used to edit images and videos, fax and sign documents, manage projects, create flowcharts etc.Besides the web page, Google Drive needs a client to synchronize files. At the start of the service the client software was available for the following devices: on Macs with Lion (10.7) and Snow Leopard (10.6) operating systems; on PCs Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7OSes; on Android smartphones and tablets with Eclair and newer OSes (Android 2.1+); on iPhone and iPad, iOS 3.0+. Linux support is underway.According to Sundar Pichai of Google, the Google Drive online storage service will be tightly integrated with an upcoming version of the Chrome OS operating system.Rumors about Google Drive began circulating as early as March 2006.Google Drive gives the user a free-of-charge cloud-storage of 5 gigabytes to start with Extra storage, which is shared between Picasa and Google Drive,from 25 GB (2.49 USD/month) up to 16 TB can be acquired through a paid monthly subscription plan.Unlike competing services Dropbox and SkyDrive, Google retains a more broad claim to reproduce, use, and create derivative works from content stored on the Google Drive. This license is perpetual even after removal of content. Although the user retains intellectual property rights, the broad Google Drive license allows extraction and parsing of uploaded content to customize advertising and other services that Google provides to the user, and for promoting the service.