Noesis

Sending large files over the net can be annoying at the best of times, IM restrictions, e mail server restrictions, and many people lack the FTP know how to upload a file to a host, that's if they have access in the first place. Even when there's access, there's eating up bandwidth to consider. If we're going to make more use of communicating say through languages such as BSL, solutions need to be in place as far as how to transfer files.

You could of course make signed video content private on somewhere like YouTube, upload our photos to a private space such as Flickr, but what if you wanted the file to actually reach someone's computer, as a private file sharing?

There's some solutions:

Dropload - Upload a file up to 100mb, the intended recipient is sent an e mail with instructions on how to download. This can only be downloaded once, and stored on Dropload's server for 7 days.

Dropsend - a similar concept, with a larger file limit, you can upload files up to 1gb. The free plan only allows you to send up to 5 file sends per month, with a pricing structure thereafter. You can also store files online, there's a limit in respect of space, how much depends on your pricing plan. The free account gives you up to 256mb.

YouSendIt - a free account allows you to send files up to 100mb, and as many files as you want. Otherwise, there is a paid account option.

Zapr - you need to download an application, and instead of uploading to a server, to be picked up later, the file is transferred directly from one computer to the other, which requires you to be online to transfer. However, as its using a variation of BitTorrent, its not really private.

Exaroom - This is restricted to a Windows platform, and requires a download. Once installed, you can share the content of your My Documents folder with others using the same software. There's questions happening in my head, how this is controlled from a security point of view.

Pando - a desktop application, which allows you to send large files up to 1gb. Although an application is required to use, it gives the look of large files being sent via e mail (both POP and web based e mail), in addition to acting as an IM plugin to send large files. This is Pando's geek version of how it works, but essentially it uses a BitTorrent based back end.

Is there an application you make use of, that is not listed here? How do you send a large file to another user?