Nigeria, April 3 -- Google has introduced a new feature that allows some users to change their Gmail usernames without creating a new account.

The company described the update as an effort to make email addresses more suitable for professional use.

The change affects the part of an email address that appears before "@gmail.com". For example, a username such as prettygrl123.1986@gmail.com can be updated to a more formal address like stella.bennet@gmail.com while the account, inbox, and stored data remain unchanged.

In a public statement, Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said the update is meant to give users more flexibility. He wrote: "2004 was a good year, but your Gmail address doesn't need to be stuck in it."

He also added that...