GrandCentral
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GrandCentral is a free Google-owned[1] internet service that uses VoIP[citation needed] to link customers' phone numbers together[2]. The service is currently in private beta, and no new invitations have been sent out since March 14. [3]
Whenever the customer's GrandCentral number is called, the chosen phone(s) ring, allowing the customer to answer his or her chosen phone. The phones can be chosen based on time of day; for example, the home phone can be turned off during business hours, and based on groups (Family, Friends, Work, Web Button, Others) or personalized based on an address book.
While GrandCentral is similar in concept to AT&T True Connections 500 service offered in the 1990s, GrandCentral is a much more robust offering. TrueConnect also offered a single number that routed to customer selectable phones. However, AT&T's service required intervention on part of AT&T to change the phone number list. GrandCentral uses the Internet, therefore customers can alter phone setting themselves, without any manual intervention on Google's part.
The site also offers centralized voice mail that can be checked from the website or through a phone, as well as numerous other services, including call screening and name-based caller ID from a customer's contact list, blocking of numbers (including automatic blocking of telemarketer numbers in their database), call recording, ability to forward calls to Gizmo Project SIP number, the ability to switch lines during a call, and different voice mail greetings based on the caller. A feature to cause callers to hear alternative ring signals is available and includes European and Asian styled ringing indicators. There was briefly a feature to allow users to upload their own ringtones via MP3 file, but it was canceled due to potential copyright infringements by users who could upload music or other intellectual property. The service only has phone numbers located in the USA.
The cost associated with the ability to forward calls from a GrandCentral number to a destination number that is outside of the local calling area of the GC number is per-minute and is currently absorbed by Grand Central. This cost also occurs when a call is initiated from the user's GrandCentral address book to place a call by selecting the destination entry and then selecting a "call from" number where the "call from" number and the destination number are not local numbers to each other on the PSTN. The service is Free for all users.
The service was founded in 2005 by Craig Walker (CEO) and Vincent Paquet (COO) who had previously ran Dialpad Communications, was funded by Minor Ventures, and purchased by Google on July 2, 2007.
[edit] References
- ^ Chan, Wesley (2007-07-02). Official Google Blog: All aboard. Google. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
- ^ Pogue, David. "One Number That Will Ring All Your Phones", The New York Times, 2007-03-15. Retrieved on 2007-03-14.
- ^ http://groups.google.com/group/grandcentral-help-alerts/t/721fd579a3885274?hl=en
[edit] External links
- Grandcentral.com Home page
- What is GrandCentral?
- Guide to GrandCentral
- Interview with Craig Walker, CEO
- Interview with Vincent Paquet
- Google Acquisition
- [1]
- Grandcentral, mother of all phone services - Know more about Grandcentral.com
- How to get free phone service using Grandcentral
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