Google announced this week that Gmail can now accommodate file attachments up to 10 GB in size.
That's 400 times larger than the old file size limit of 25 MB.
Google is integrating Gmail with its new cloud-based storage service Drive. Users get 5 GB of free storage space, and can pay $2.49 per month for 25 GB of space, or $4.99 per month for 100 GB.
"So whether it's photos from your recent camping trip, video footage from your brother's wedding, or a presentation to your boss, all your stuff is easy to find and easy to share with Drive and Gmail," said Google's product manager Phil Sharp.
Now, when composing an email, users have the option to add a file from their Drive account. This has the added benefit of giving recipients access to the latest version of a file.
So, for example, if you send an email with a spreadsheet in your Drive account, you can update that spreadsheet at a later date, and everyone you emailed initially will see the updated document if they try to open it. Really, you're sending a link to a file stored in the cloud, rather than actually "attaching" the file to an email.
"Like a smart assistant, Gmail will also double-check that your recipients all have access to any files you're sending. This works like Gmail's forgotten attachment detector: whenever you send a file from Drive that isn't shared with everyone, you'll be prompted with the option to change the file's sharing settings without leaving your email. It'll even work with Drive links pasted directly into emails."
Of course, since Drive accounts only come with 5 GB of free space, users who opt not to pay anything won't be able to send attachments larger than that. Most files are much smaller than that, and recipients still need to download the file to see it, so attachments that large are still impractical.
Google rolls out the attachment option over the next few days. In order to use it, you need to have enabled the new "Compose Mail" feature (you'll get the option when you start a new email), which positions an email you're writing in a pop-up window, like the current Gchat chatboxes.