Sending Large Files

By Traci Hieserich

Have you ever tried to send a really large file through e-mail but it won't let you because the file is too large? This can be a problem for a few reasons. If you or your recipients are working with dial-up internet it may take too long to attach or download the file which sometimes causes the message to time out or delay. This may also cause your ISP or your recipient's ISP to block the file because it is so large. Your recipient's Inbox may also be full which could make delivering a message with such a large file difficult.

I recently had this problem with several files I have been working on. For example, I was recently working on some huge graphics files for a client that would not go through e-mail. So I researched on the Internet and decided to try an online service that would bypass the ISP limitations. The one I tried is called SendThisFile. SendThisFile is an online service that allows you to send large files using their server. Signing up for account is free so I decided to give it a try. SendThisFile.com also has a paid version - their Starter Plan is only $2.95/month or $29.95/yr.

There are a number of sites that also provide similar services:

• Dropload - Dropload is a place for you to drop your files off and have them picked up by someone else at a later time. Recipients you specify are sent an e-mail with instructions on how to download the file. Files are removed from the system after 7 days, regardless if they have been picked up or not. You can upload any type of file, mp3, movies, docs, pdfs, up to 100MB each! Recipients can be anyone with an e-mail address
  
  
• YouSendIt - YouSendIt lets you send files that are too big for e-mail. It's easy to use, fast, and secure. Send as many 1Gb files as you want!
  • YouSendIt Lite - With the Lite version you get: Your own Inbox, Sent files history, Address book, 100 downloads per file
  • YouSendIt Plus - With the Plus version, you get all of the Lite benefits plus: No ads on your pages, Track downloads, 3-day e-mail support, 200 downloads per file, Send files up to 2 GB
    
    
• TransferBigFiles - Allows you to send large files (less than 1Gb) to or from anyone for free. (Recipient(s) will receive an e-mail with a link to download your file. The file is valid for 5 days or 20 downloads.)

All of these services work pretty much the same way. You upload the file to the site's server then you enter the e-mail address of the person you wish to send the file to. You can also send a personal message to the person if you like. The recipient then receives a simple text with a link that they can click on. This takes them to the site where they can then download the file you have sent them.

Using an online utility such as the ones mentioned here greatly simplifies large file transfers without clogging your e-mail.

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