Google has just implemented a change to Google+ and Gmail that will enable you to email other Google+ users without having to know their email address. If you want to send an email to somone on Google+, but do not know their email address, simply type their name in the 'To' field in Gmail, and they'll appear as one of your Google+ Connections. Google insists that Google+ contacts can't see your email address until you send them an email, according to a post on the Gmail blog:
As you can tell from the example above, these emails work a bit differently so that your email address is only shared with the people you want. Your email address isn't visible to a Google+ connection unless you send that person an email, and likewise, that persons email address isnt visible to you unless they send you an email.
Currently, you can receive from anyone on Google+ by default. To change this, go into Gmail's Settings, and under General, find Email via Google+. From the drop-down menu, you can select Anyone on Google+, Extended Circles, Circles, and No one. Google notes that anyone who isn't in your circles will need to get your permission to send you additional emails beyond the first one.
Do you think this will be useful, does it raise any privacy concerns, or will this simply lead to more spam? Source: Gmail blog
[h=1]How to disable emailing via Google+ with Gmail[/h] By Allyson Kazmucha, Thursday, Jan 9, 2014
Google recently made some changes to Gmail and Google+ that lets anyone that has you on Google+ send you an email, even if they don't know your email address. While some of us may be okay with this, some of us may find it to be an invasion of privacy and quite frankly, a little creepy. Luckily, Google does give you a way to disable it. Here's how:
Launch a web browser and go to www.gmail.com. You can do this from an iPhone or iPad in Safari or from any computer. If you're doing it from an iPhone or iPad, make sure you aren't using the mobile version of Gmail.
Log in to the Gmail account you use with Google+.
In the upper right hand corner, click on the gear icon and then click on Settings in the dropdown menu.
Under the General tab find the Email via Google+ section. This is where you can change the setting for who can email you via Google+. Change it here to the preference you want and then click Save at the bottom of the Settings page.
That's all there is to it. Even though Google says no one sees your actual email unless you respond, it may just be more of an issue of privacy for many. Do you plan on turning off the feature or does it not bother you? Let us know in the comments!
