Google Inc. is reportedly close to launching its long-rumored cloud storage service, Google Drive that would rival cloud-storage provider Dropbox.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, "people familiar with the matter" says the service is to address the growing need for cloud computing or storing files online so that they can be retrieved by multiple devices. Rumors about Google's cloud service have been circulating amongst tech blogs before. Tech Crunch reported in September that the search giant was close to launching the service. Google had thought of launching a cloud service called "G Drive" that lets users store music files and data online back in 2007 but the service was eventually dropped.

Google Drive will reportedly allow users to store photos, documents, videos and other data on Google's servers to make it accessible to any device connected on the Internet. On the surface it doesn't sound like anything different from what other cloud services are doing but Google Drive does have the advantage of having the support of Google's other services. Users could upload their pictures to Google Drive and have them instantly shared on their Google+ accounts.

If Google does release Google Drive then Dropbox will be in a troubled position. Google could undercut Dropbox's prices to attract more users. Dropbox currently offers 2Gb of free storage and charges users $9.99 per month for an additional 50Gb of data. Google already offers free cloud storage with its various services like Picasa, Gmail and Google Docs. Users can already get 20Gb of cloud storage from Google Docs for just $5 a year.

Google Drive would really shine if Google releases a mobile and desktop app that will rival Apple's iCloud as well as Dropbox or SugarSync. Android devices with a Google Drive app will be comparable to simplicity of Apple's iCloud. Google Drive can also be integrated with Chrome and even Chrome laptops.

With storage services generating about $830 million revenue world-wide in 2011, companies are all scrambling to get into the burgeoning market. Google's foray into the cloud storage services is expected and long awaited. Other cloud services better watch out.