GrandCentral: Let Google Manage Your Calls
GrandCentral, recently acquired by Google, has been around for sometime now. So why am I blogging about it? Because I’ve just started using it and let me tell you, it is awesome. It has more features then I could possibly tell you about here, but I will try anyway.
GrandCentral (GC) is a way to manage your telephone numbers. It is not a VoIP per se, at least not like Skype. Rather, GrandCentral lets you have one telephone number that will ring any other telephone number you like. What do I mean? With GC you can chose a telephone number in virtually any area code. You can then start handing it out to your friends and associates. Using their slick online interface, you can then tell GC where to route the calls. For instance, I could set it so that if my wife calls it goes to my cell phone. If my mother calls (the very same number) I could route to my home phone. And if my mother-in-law calls I could have it give a "this number is no longer in service message." No joke. You can do all those things.
You can also use GC to effectively screen your calls. When you recieve a call you are prompted to press 1 to accept the call, 2 to send the call to voicemail, 3 to send to voicemail and listen in, or 4 to accept the call and record it.
You can view a whole list of features here. GrandCentral is currently free, but it is in Beta invite mode only right now. You can head over to their website to get on the list, but it takes a few weeks to a month to get an invite (at least as of writing). I have ten invites that I will give out to anyone who wants it. Leave a comment and I’ll email you the invite!
GrandCentral is a great idea that delivers on what it sets out to do. If the service stays free or inexpensive, you can count me in as a regular user.
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This article was written by John Kolbert on October 4, 2007 and filed as Reviews. Get the latest articles by subscribing to the RSS feed. This article, including images and attachments, is property of John Kolbert and is not to be republished or translated without prior written permission.
Hi John!
I’ve just found out about this service reading http://www.s60tips.com/2007/10/02/one-number-for-life-with-google-grandcentral/ and then digged your post.
I’ll really appreciate if you can send me an invite to try it out myself.
Thanks a bunch!
Toly
There’s your invite. Thanks for reading!
Nine invites left!
Thanks in advance. I appreciate it. I’ve been dying to try this out.
There ya go!
Eight invites left!
I am looking forward to try it out, many thx
stefan
I would truly appreciate an invite
I’d appreciate an Invite too!
Invites sent!
Five invites left!
I dumped my Blackberry and have been working on a “poor man’s” smartphone. GrandCentral would be a great addition.
Amen Mike! Your invite’s been sent, and thanks for reading!
FOUR invites left!
Trying to find an invite. It would be great if you could help me out.
Many thanks
Invite sent! Enjoy!
THREE invites left!
I just heard about this service. It sounds like an awesome idea. I would love an invite to try it out. Thanks a lot.
Invite sent. Thanks for reading!
TWO invites left
Red rover, red rover please send a Grand Central invite right over! Thanks.
The invite’s yours!
Only ONE invite left. Who wants it?
I want it :-)
The last invite has been sent! I hope you all are enjoying GrandCentral, feel free to share your experiences.