Why stop at 5 when you can
go the distance?

Microsoft's free online mail service Hotmail has increased its user storage from 2 gigabytes to 5 gigabytes, according to The Globe and Mail.

In the free email battle, Hotmail continues to trail Yahoo and AOL, which currently offer unlimited storage. Gmail offers close to 3 gigs, but the figure may change, as it increases slowly but at a constant rate.

Gmail started the storage limit battle by offering users 2 Gigs from the get-go when it launched in 2004. While Hotmail thus preoccupies itself with storage, Gmail is now focusing on global domination: recently the company announced its availability in 41 languages.

"Adventurous" users are encouraged to change their language settings and try operating email like a hyperpolyglotic - defined by the Gmail blog as someone who can readily communicate in a multiplicity of tongues.