INFORMATION COCKTAIL: Google is giving users the option to blend the information stored in their Gmail accounts into the index of its influential Internet search engine.

WHAT IT MEANS: When a general search requests includes keywords contained in a logged-in user’s Gmail account, Google Inc. will display the relevant correspondence alongside other pertinent information culled from other websites.

TREADING CAREFULLY: Hoping to avoid a privacy backlash, Google is testing the new feature on a limited basis. A maximum of 1 million Gmail users initially will be able to tie their accounts to search. Sign up at http://g.co/searchtrial .