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Google grabs GrandCentral. But how does that help me?

In a move seemingly outside their corporate mission, Google continues to focus on making your information more accessible to you.



For right now, this doesn't affect you at all since GrandCentral is in "private beta" (they send invites out to test it). Since Google bought it we can assume (yeah, I know) that the technology is pretty strong and when it's made public, it'll be free. If those two things are true, we'll be looking at a very powerful tool for organizing one of life's hassles: listening to voicemail.

Here's what GrandCentral can do:
  • Collect all your voicemails into one place (home, work, cellphone).
    • Access voicemails from any phone or through a web browser.
    • One interface for all voicemails.
  • Gives you greater control of your voicemails.
    • Keep your voicemails forever (if needed).
    • Listen to calls in any order.
    • "Visual voicemail" which will be come a common phrase since it's offered on the iPhone.
    • Screen calls the same way you screen emails.
    • Sort voicemails into folders.
  • Customize to your liking.
    • Get email or text message notification when a voicemail is received.
    • Set different ringtones for different callers.
    • Set different greeting messages for different callers.
That's a lot of different stuff. For people who live a voicemail intense life, the benefits of this service is obvious. More control and better access to your life's data. You can see why Google snatched up GrandCentral.
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Comments
  • Posted by: fizzle_4963 at 04 Jul 12:07 permalink
    It's not outside their mission. They're going to use it as a backbone for local advertising - pay-per-call.

    http://www.blog.robwebb2k.com/2007/07/story-behind-googles-acquisition-of.html
    • Posted by: RJ45 at 04 Jul 21:52 permalink
      I meant the "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful" thingy. This is more geared to a person's own info/life, as opposed to the "world's".

      I like your idea about the GrandCentral technology being deployed for their advertising efforts. Do you see it being used in an advertiser's account as a way to track and store who had called their business thru the AdWords program?
    • Posted by: arhemed_7675 at 04 Jul 15:20 permalink
      can i have an invite? arhemed at gmail com
      • Posted by: RJ45 at 04 Jul 21:53 permalink
        I don't have any invites. You need to go to the "reserve a number" section and I assume they'll contact you when they need more testers or go into public beta.

        http://www.grandcentral.com/