GrandCentral

GrandCentral is a free Google-owned [cite web|last=Chan|first=Wesley |title=Official Google Blog: All aboard|publisher=Google|date=2007-07-02|url= http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/all-aboard.html |accessdate=2008-03-12] Internet service that uses VoIP [ [http://www.google.com/support/grandcentral/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=79903 GrandCentral Basics : About GrandCentral - GrandCentral Help Center ] ] to link customers' phone numbers together. [cite news|last=Pogue|first=David|title=One Number That Will Ring All Your Phones|publisher=The New York Times|date=2007-03-15|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/15/technology/15pogue.html |accessdate=2007-03-14] The service is currently in private beta, and no new invitations have been sent out since March 14 2007. [http://groups.google.com/group/grandcentral-help-alerts/t/721fd579a3885274?hl=en]

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 more robust offering. TrueConnect also offered a single number that routed to customers' selected phone lines. However, AT&T's service required intervention on part of AT&T to change the phone number list. GrandCentral uses a customer self-service webpage to allow customers to alter phone settings 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 incoming calls (including automatic blocking of telemarketer numbers previously reported as such in a 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.

There is no cost to use GrandCentral as it is currently in the Beta Phase. The prices have not yet been announced, so GrandCentral currently provides free service.

The service was founded in 2005 by Craig Walker (CEO) and Vincent Paquet (COO) who previously ran Dialpad Communications, was funded by Minor Ventures, and purchased by Google on July 2 2007. Interested persons had been able to sign-up through invitations from existing members but that was during a limited period which ended in 2007. Currently, the GrandCentral home page has a "Reserve" request function to allow prospective customers to request a phone number for when the service becomes public.

References

External links

* [http://www.grandcentral.com/ Grandcentral.com Home page]
* [http://www.grandcentral.com/about/whatisgc/ What is GrandCentral?]
* [http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/05/28/the-techcrunch-quick-guide-to-grandcentral/ Guide to GrandCentral]
* [http://www.centernetworks.com/interview-with-grandcentral Interview with Craig Walker, CEO]
* [http://www.atelier.fr/services/getmp3.php?id=34456&talk=6 Interview with Vincent Paquet]
* [http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/all-aboard.html Google Acquisition]
* [http://www.technologymadness.com/?p=368 Grandcentral, mother of all phone services - Know more about Grandcentral.com]