If you need to send a large file to someone without using email, you may want to know what services and tools are available without needing tech knowledge or using file transfer protocol (FTP).

Using the email attachment approach for files that are larger than one megabyte isn't effective and it may never reach the recipient because some Internet providers don't allow large files through. It also hogs the recipient's email as it takes time to download depending on the file size, the person's Internet connection speed and recipient's host provider.

Private P2P file sharing tools like Grouper, TrustyFiles or even Groove, QNext and several others are possible solutions, but they are not as popular or as easy to adopt for users needing to send a large file on an occasional basis.

Thankfully, several vendors have recognized the need for a Web-based file exchange service to answer this market demand, and offer products ranging from bare-bones file uploading services (targeted mostly to individuals and home users) to fully customizable secure online file storage and distribution systems. Of course, the price tag differs for each of these levels of sophistication with available options for each budget level.

If you have experience with these and other vendors (we're adding more there's a lot of them!), please share them in the comments section.

PipeBytes

PipeBytes in a web-based tool that anyone can use to share files, with no size limitation. If you want to send a file, just click the "Send" button, browse for you file, and click "Upload". You will be provided with a pick-up code, or simply with a pick-up URL, that will connect your and your friend's computer to send the file directly, with no uploading process. Free to use, no registration needed. http://www.pipebytes.com/

Hotshare

Hotshare is an online hosting solution that you can use to share any type of file (music, videos, pictures, zip, rar, docs...).

Without even registering, you are able to upload all the files you want up to 200MB-each, and to get a download link that you can share via email or IM, to allow anyone of your friends or team-mates to get the file.

Price: Free
Multiple pickup: Yes
Delivery receipt: No
Virus scan: No
Compression: No
Encryption: No
Secure site: Yes
Expiration period: Never
Maximum file size: 200MB
Web site integration: No
Pros: No registration is needed
Cons: You cannot register and get your personal page to organize your files
http://www.affiliates.hotshare.net/

Precautions When Sending Large Files:

1. If you are sending a big file as an attachment, always make sure that the recipient has a good internet connection else you could choke his mail server or even his ISP could reject the message.

2. When you are sending a file by splitting it into multiple pieces, keep the subject line of the email as Part 1 of 6, Part 2 of 6, etc so that your friend has no problems in finding the missing parts.

3. Use services like rapidshare, megaupload with caution as your files are uploaded in a public domain. So delete the file as soon as your recipient had download the file at his end.

R opSend helps you do two things ...
Send large files up to 1 gigabyte
File too big for email?
• Send large files of up to 1GB
• Ideal for sending jpegs, pdfs, MP3s
• Send important large files to clients
• Fast, simple and secure to use
• No software to install

Store Files Online
Your hard drive, online. Use it to...
• Back up all your files online
• Store important information then access it anywhere
• Share your stored files with others
• Back up your website and other projects
• Archive all your critical data
• Business plan available for group file-sharing

Regular contributor Leib Moscovitz recently wrote, "Gizmo I've recently been using a really terrific program for sending large files, called Pando [1]. It's very easy to use and extremely fast, in fact I clocked it against YouSendIt [2] and it was something like 25% faster, not to mention the fact that it works quietly in the background without forcing you to stay on the web page you're currently using, as YouSendIt does. The program is officially only in closed beta although you can download it directly from Softpedia [3] without having to contact Pando directly." Thanks Leib for another great find. Pando works by setting up a server on your PC that allows you to send and receive large files without the size limitations of your email program. Nothing new here but what is new is the slick and hassle-free way Pando does it. To send someone a large file, you just click the Pando tray icon, enter the recipient's email address, drag and drop the files (or folders) you want to send into Pando and then hit "send". This initiates a file transfer to Pando's servers. The recipient will then automatically receive an email telling them about the files you have just sent along with instructions how they can retrieve them.

Recipients not using Pando are instructed to download the Pando program and install it. Pando users simply have to click a link to start the download. I tried it with a couple of my friends and it worked flawlessly and fast. I particularly liked the way a recipient can start downloading before the uploading is complete; a real time saver for very large files. On the downside there is little integration with email clients, it requires both the sender and user to be using Pando and files only remain on the server for 14 days. I also wonder about the security risk of having a server running on your PC. Those reservations aside, it's a great solution to a common problem. Free beta, Windows 2000 and later or OS X V10+, 2MB.