Print - Microsoft and Yahoo! Issue Responses to Gmail Challenge

Responding to the impending public release of Google's Gmail service, which will offer users a full gigabyte of email storage space, MSN Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail are dramatically increasing their storage allotments. Yahoo!'s updated service debuted late last week, and Microsoft's planned update should be available soon.

Yahoo! Mail can't quite match Gmail's 1GB offering, but Yahoo! has made a dramatic jump from the earlier 4MB of storage to 100MB, which Yahoo! executives say should be enough for most users. "What we are trying to do is take storage off the table as an issue," Yahoo! Vice President Brad Garlinghouse said, noting that Yahoo! previously charged users $60 a year for 100MB of storage. Yahoo! also raised the email-attachment size limit from 3MB to 10MB, and the company now offers only one paid upgrade package: For $20 a year, users can get a whopping 2GB of storage space. Users who pay for the upgrade don't have to see graphical ads, the company says.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has been quiet about its plans for MSN Hotmail, but the company is slowly rolling out to existing users an upgrade that increases the free storage allotment from 2MB to 25MB, still far short of the Yahoo! and Google offerings. The upgrade won't be Microsoft's full response to Gmail, however. In July, the company will roll out a major upgrade that includes much more storage space, although a Microsoft representative was unable to corroborate the exact amount. "Part of that [upgrade] will ensure that storage won't be an issue [for customers]," she said.

Go Google! Go Google! Its about time somebody gives us something nicer than spam.

Your Comments (required):One thing you failed to mention that Yahoo and Hotmail are doing to counter Gmail. Yahoo and Hotmail appear to be blocking messages sent to their users from Gmail; blocking a competing service.

Don't you mean: Yahoo responds, Microsoft says they will respond someday, maybe... no, really, believe us... please

I'll tell you what Hotmail has to do, up the space to atleast 1GB, look at the prices and see what im getting now for £20. Get rid of the ADVERTS on the inbox page - I pay you know!!!! and let me use the calendar - I pay you know (again). The took my money and all i got was a lousy 25mb :( not even a calendar, and they taunt me with it by leaving it as a tab - it must change, it must improve!

They'll get bigger and bigger and bloatier and bloatier, until one day they will be Screwgle. Gmail is a retarded attempt to invade an area already mature and working for most people quite well. Google is no panacea

I just wish my sister would send me an invite! She has 3 and won't send me one. If she would just give me one, then I can dump my yahoo! and my hotmail account and get the amount of storage I need in ONE account!

Well well well !! If one were to check out www.rediffmail.com !! ONE GB MAIL IS ALREADY HERE !!!

Hi Everyone. Recently my Hotmail Extra Storage bill came due. Hearing about Gmail, I figured why bother. Last Tuesday, Yahoo came through exceeding Aol even in quality mailbox size and attachment size...Yahoo Rocks! Anyway Hotmail wants me to send them money to pay for my 10MB box with my 3 MB mail attachment size..Yeah right Hotmail! LOL!! Hotmail needs to get with it. Thanks Gmail for freeing up cyberspace. I do appreciate it!

It's not only Gmail offering 1GB other companies like rediffmail is also offering iGB for free along with 10MB attachments and its cool and fast too.

yeah good old Rediffmail will increase theier limit if you live in india "* applicable only for users residing in India. Users outside India will get 10MB storage space and 1MB mail attachment"

Everyone is talking about gmail which is not freely available check out GAWAB.COM with 1000mb storage and all facilities of Gmail plus multilingual support.

Has anyone actually got there 250mb from hotmail? ive been a member for 7 years and still havnt got my upgrade!!

I got my hotmail upgade awhile ago. I can't remember exactly, but I would say a month or more. I don't use it that much, just as a spam catcher, but I did notice the last time I logged on that I was <1% of capacity, and had a message from Microsoft telling me about the bump.

I like yahoo. It has good security than hotmail. Yahoo should have web based messenger like hotmail.

I got 50 gmail invitations. Please send a mssg to superhotdogx@spamhole.com for one, just for today. SPAMHOLE BTW is a site to make a temporary email for an hour or so to stop spam. Laterz!

GMail is great on those days it works. Some days all I get is "Loading . . . ." Anybody know why?

E-mail Forestraven@hotmail.com if you want a free g-mail account.. I always have them available.