There is a bit of good news for those who tend to send out "rage messages." Google has announced that a new feature on Gmail will delay delivering emails, thereby allowing the sender to think first, or cool down, and stop the message from being sent should they change their mind.
"Previously a popular feature in Gmail Labs, and recently added to Inbox by Gmail, today we're adding 'Undo Send' as a formal setting in Gmail on the web," Google explained.
The "Undo Send" option was first introduced in 2009 but was kept hidden in the Labs section of the app as an experimental feature. Now, the company has integrated the full version to its email client. When the option is turned on, it lets users retract an email a few seconds after the "Send" button has been clicked, since the system will not immediately and automatically deliver the message to its recipient. Users can choose between five and 30 seconds during which they'll be able to recall the offending email message.
According to Google, the feature will also be included in its Inbox app. Inbox is a mobile app for iOS and Android that keeps users' emails organized by highlighting important emails and bundling similar messages, much like posting messages with "Featured" status in the Web-based app.
The "Undo Send" feature is most welcome since many people nowadays have a horror story or two when it comes to sending email messages. It might be a spur-of-the-moment scathing message to a boss, or a blunder with a wrongly-pressed "Reply to All" button. There are even email senders who reply to a spam message. Wrongly sent messages tend to embarrass the sender, and email users wish there was some way to delay the step and give them control over the sending process. This feature can minimize such blunders.
