Google Purchases GrandCentral Web Phone Service

Nrbelex writes "Bloomberg News via the New York Times is reporting that Google has purchased GrandCentral. 'Google said yesterday that it had bought GrandCentral Communications, acquiring a service that lets people use a single number for all their phones ... GrandCentral users can create a single mailbox, accessible over the Internet, for all their phone messages, Google said on its Web site ... GrandCentral, based in Fremont, Calif., was founded in 2005 by Craig Walker and Vincent Paquet, two executives who worked for Dialpad Communications, a Web phone company that was acquired by Yahoo in 2005.'"

Comments

Phone Numbers?

[vigmeister]

This page sorta gives out phonenumbers to some important people... Wonder if/when they'll take it down... Or have the numbers been faked?

http://www.grandcentral.com/home/one_addressbook

Cheers!

Better jump on it now

[TWDsje]

If anyone is interested in this service I would recommend you get over to www.grandcentral.com and apply for an invitation now since registrations for the service will be limited while they move over to the Google network.

Mixed Feelings

[Jedi Holocron]

I've had a GrandC entral number for a while now. I set it up with the plan that, I could finally get rid of my AT&T cellur phone and go pre-paid, but not be tied to any one company.

I haven't yet done that, but I have been using the GrandCentral number for more of my business use. I think it works well and I haven't been using the verous special features, such as "ListenIn".

I think what held me back from making the final switch-over to the new number was concern about the viability of Grand Central long term. Well, I think the Google acquisition solves that problem. Google isn't going away anytime soon.

So, I guess, in the end I'm please they were acquired. The funny thing was I was on the site earlier yesterday to get a number set up for my wife, but didn't do it. Now, I'll have to send myself an invite to set up that other number. Oh well...

Not new at all?

[PhraudulentOne]

I'm not sure I understand this acquisition. I work for a small Telco, and we have been able to provide these services for a couple of years now.

We can make all your phones ring, or just one, or in a certain order. We can selectively block calls, or block anonymous calls, etc. This can be configured through the web, or through 'star codes' on your phone. Any number, or hop, can be redirected to your own voice mail, or certain numbers can go to their own voice mail. The voice mail system emails you your messages, and you can delete them via email, or through your phone.

What's so special about Grand Central? Why didn't Google just start their own service - all the tools are readily available to do this. Was it just to 'buy' the customers?