Wednesday 28 November 2012

Gmail users can add files up to 10GB directly from Google Drive

The latest integration between two of Google's biggest products is making it easier for consumers and business customers alike to share large files.
Today's update entails Gmail and Google Drive. The release is two-fold. First, users will now be able to attach files directly from Google drive to their emails without ever having to leave their Gmail accounts.
Secondly, those files can be a lot larger than ever before as the update supports attachments up to 10GB in size -- which Google said is up to 400 times larger than "traditional attachments."

A new button in the Gmail compose window will give users the ability to attach a file from their Google Drive account rather than attaching the file itself to the message. 
 Once it’s attached, Gmail will ensure that your recipient has permission to view the file in your Drive account -– or will prompt you to grant that permission –- and then sends the message.
 
The feature works not only for files you attach to the message, but also for links to items stored in Google Drive you might paste into a message.


Since you’re essentially sharing a link to the file in the cloud rather than the file itself, you can continue to update it, with those updates showing up for your recipient as well. As with other cloud services such as Dropbox and Box, you can collaborate on the shared document with the recipient directly in Google Drive, keeping a single copy rather than passing drafts back and forth.

Microsoft currently offers a similar feature via Outlook and SkyDrive.

Each Google Drive user is granted 5GB of free storage from Google. In order to store and send files larger than 5GB users will be required to purchase additional Google Drive storage space to accomodate those files. Currently you can purchase 25GB of additional Google Drive storage for $2.49 per month, or 100GB for $4.99 per month.