This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Update: May 15, 2026 (2:57 AM ET): Google has now confirmed this test in a statement to us while giving more details regarding the feature
Next up: too many people are exporting their data at once, so now exporting your data costs extra.
Pretty sure that'd be illegal under GDPR.
Only if enforced.
I would prefer they didn't do this, but I understand. Storage isn't without cost. 5 GB is a lot for email actually. It's probably intended to reduce abuse from bots. We should probably not be using free email anyway.
Gee, would've been a shame if Google's employees go on strike and would start their own company.
Time to create a bunch of throwaway gmail accounts!
I transitioned to a custom domain backed by iCloud some years ago but just kind of let the Gmail sit around because it a) functioned as a decent catch all for garbage and b) I was just too lazy to move over some less important accounts to the new email.
This is a good reminder to migrate the last of it over and let the gmail account atrophy.
seems that Google is testing offering only 5GB [for new accounts] free storage unless you add a phone number to your account.
iCloud accounts are 5GB if you a phone number. You don't get to create an account if you don't add a number.
I'm not defending this move. It's on the same level as them yanking their free lifetime unlimited storage on ONE accounts. But I also get it.
"improve security"
isn't basically common knowledge at this point phone recovery methods decrease security? How do companies keep getting away with this.
