Email storage space - how much do you need?

In this article I discuss how much storage space a typical email user needs. If I see raised hands and voices asking for unlimited storage space, well, you've got it. Two of the world's biggest online email service providers, Yahoo! and AOL, have started to offer unlimited space.

The "unlimited storage" notion is actually incorrect - there is no such thing! Hard disk storage space is a physical entity and can never be unlimited. Any way, for most of us, a couple of GBs are more than enough. For instance, I am a prolific user of my Gmail mail and have barely crossed 20% of the storage space. I have a few video (large files) clips stored in my account and I do keep deleting emails because I don't have a need for them any more.

I believe most users would be utilizing only a small portion of the allocated inbox space and this has prompted Yahoo! and AOL to announce unlimited space for email their accounts. Maybe a dedicated (and insane) person would like to make use of the whole of unlimited space (whatever that means) and maybe he/she would be allowed to do so, but for most of us a few GBs would be sufficient.

Everyone seems to be increasing email storage space

Windows Live Hotmail now offers 5GB and four Indian companies, Sify.com, Rediff.com, Zapak.com and Indiatimes.com have unlimited email storage space - Email storage space on Indian web portals increases to unlimited. As we know, the space ticker on Gmail keeps on going and it will be running harder from the 4th of January 2008. So increase in email storage space is taken for granted.

The race for offering the largest email storage space has, thus, kind of ended with several providers proffering unlimited amounts. What is going to play a bigger role are features and ease of use. Google has been excelling in this department. They keep on adding free and powerful features to Gmail accounts - the IMAP access is the latest. I also like the Yahoo! Mail new interface with drag-n-drop but it does take a bit of time to load and requires a higher screen resolution. But once it's loaded, it's a treat!

It is also a given that as email storage space increases, the number of emails a typical user stores online will increase. Availability of broadband and high speed Internet connections will definitely be a big help. And this means the value of an advanced search function that can give quick results will increase tremendously. In fact a good search feature would be a prerequisite for these large storage space email accounts. I suppose Google would be at the forefront of this too with their proprietary and excellent search algorithms.

Should Google be bothered with competition providing unlimited email storage space?

According to me, Google will not be providing unlimited storage space for Gmail accounts unless something really goes awry. After a point, the amount of inbox space is no longer a factor in choosing to use an email service. And so, Google, in my opinion would put their efforts in making Gmail simple to use and adding new unique features for free... and the storage space would continue to increase but not to "unlimited".

Google's Gmail and its unlimited email storage space competitors

Gmail was launched with 1GB inbox space and this was almost a 100 times more than some of the providers at that time. However, at the time of writing the free storage space on Gmail account is less than Yahoo! Mail, AOL and the four Indian companies I have mentioned above. Windows Live Hotmail, unfortunately, still lags behind with 5GB.

Here is a quick run down of the unlimited email storage space competition:

Yahoo! Mail

Probably the world's leading online email service provider
Yahoo!Mail

AOL Mail

Popular especially in the states
http://webmail.aol.com

Mail2World

Might just make a mark for itself if the features are good and useful.
http://www.mail2world.com/

Indiatimes.com

Indian company part of the famous Times of India newspaper group.
http://mail.indiatimes.com/

Rediff.com

Probably the first true Indian portal and has always actively promoted its email service.
http://www.rediff.com

Zapakmail.com

Largest Indian gaming portal from one of the biggest business groups in India
http://www.zapak.com/mail/zapakmail.zpk

Sify.com

One of the first private I.S.P. in India
http://www.sify.com