<!–:st–>25GB maximum on Gmail accounts. <!–st:–>
When Google launched Gmail it included 1GB of storage which, next to Microsoft Hotmail’s 4MB, seemed like a bottomless bag for emails. But that was in 2004.
The basic Gmail account and the free (Standard) edition of Google Apps come with 7GB of storage. But Google has different rules for buying more storage depending on the type of account you have.
If you hit the 7GB limit in the basic Gmail account Google will sell you additional storage which you can share across Gmail, Docs, Picasa and Blogger.
Google Apps Standard edition users who have maxed out their 7GB allocation can buy additional storage for Docs, Picasa and Blogger – but not Gmail. “The only way (Google Apps Standard edition) users can increase Gmail storage is by moving to the paid version, which gives them 25GB,” a Google spokesperson told BoxFreeIT.
The prices for additional storage are the same for basic Gmail accounts or Google Apps users. Prices start at US$5 for 20GB per year and top out at US$4,096 for 16TB per year. Plans automatically renew and charge the account every year unless disabled. See the price chart on the right.
Google Apps users of the Business, Education and Government editions receive 25GB storage in their Gmail accounts and can buy additional storage to share across Google Docs, Picasa and Blogger. “Paid Google Apps users cannot increase Gmail storage above 25GB,” the Google spokesperson said.
However, if Google Apps users buy Postini, Google’s email security and archival service, they can archive an unlimited number of emails which effectively gives Gmail unlimited storage.
Users manage own storage
Google’s policy for managing storage is in line with its policy for document ownership – power and responsibility lie with the user.
Even though Google Apps is intended for businesses, the Google Apps administrator can’t allocate storage to users directly. While the administrator has to give approval to users to buy “user-managed storage”, its the user who has to buy the additional storage for their own account if he or she needs more space with Google Docs, Picasa and Blogger.
One consequence of this arrangement is that storage can’t be pooled within the business. If one user has buys additional storage he or she can’t share that storage with other Google Apps users. This inflexibility will inevitably mean more users will need to buy additional storage.
Purchases are also handled through the individual user’s Google Checkout account, which is annoying for businesses that would prefer to purchase storage for staff accounts through a company account.
Google’s conditions listed on the additional storage purchase page state: “Google storage purchases are non-refundable. You can upgrade storage plans for the pro-rated difference at any time. Paid storage for one Google Account cannot be transferred to a different account.”
What happens if my account is too full?
If you have met or exceeded the limit for your Gmail or Google Apps account, Google will start limiting your usage.
Gmail users over their 7GB or 25GB limit (depending on type of Gmail or Google Apps account) will stop receiving emails. Or as Google says, emails will “hard bounce”. Users at their maximum storage in Google Docs won’t be able to upload any more documents, and Picasa users will be restricted in the size of photos and videos they can upload.
Pictures up to 2048 x 2048 pixels and videos up to 15 minutes don’t count towards Picasa’s total storage limit and can still be uploaded. But if you reach your storage limit, any new photos uploaded to Picasa Web larger than the free size limit will be automatically resized to 800 pixels on their longest edge.
If you reach your storage limit when uploading to Picasa Web from the Picasa desktop software, you’ll only be able upload at free storage sizes. Larger uploads will not be automatically resized to the free storage limit.
Google provided BoxFreeIT with links to its storage policies which are included below.
- Google storage – How it works
- Google Apps – purchase storage
- Now available with Google Apps: User Managed Storage
- Refunds, renewals and cancellations
- Google Postini Services