Google acquires GrandCentral
Posted by Emil Protalinski on 03 July 2007 - 02:49 · 10 comments & 2512 views
Google has acquired GrandCentral Communications for an undisclosed sum. GrandCentral lets users combine all their phone numbers and voicemail boxes under one phone number. From there, users can set up their accounts so that the number can ring on one or multiple phones based on who is calling. Customers can hear voicemail online or from a phone and forward voicemails to others or post them to a blog. Users can also log into their online address book and then click on an entry to make a call.

On its Web site, GrandCentral said it was pleased about the acquisition because it would assure users that their GrandCentral numbers will be around for the long term no matter how many times users move or change jobs or phone providers. Google will continue to support existing users without interruption but will issue only a limited number of invitations for new beta customers while it transitions the service over to Google. GrandCentral listed one feature that isn't available following the Google acquisition. Although customers will be able to choose from a selection of sound files as ringback tones, they won't be able to upload their own sound files going forward.

Link: GrandCentral
News source: InfoWorld


There are 10 additional comments
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Quote this comment Reply to this comment #1 Posted by cooljerk_dv on 03 Jul 2007 - 03:51
sounds like a neat service . . . and google bought it . . interesting

I can see Google becoming my telecom of choice within the next 10 years
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #2 Posted by srstakey on 03 Jul 2007 - 04:22
Hmm...now if they could only make it free for a while, like eBay did with SkypeOut...
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #3 Posted by billyea on 03 Jul 2007 - 06:30
gPhone =) yeah I know, it's not what this article is about, but their acquisition of a redirection service is interesting to say the least.
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #4 Posted by +antaris on 03 Jul 2007 - 07:40
I always thought it was amazing that they have now fallen into the 'If we can't do it...buy it' paradigm...
Quote this comment #4.1 Posted by lbmouse on 03 Jul 2007 - 13:55
Quote - (antaris said @ #4)
I always thought it was amazing that they have now fallen into the 'If we can't do it...buy it' paradigm...

It is sad that they are starting to follow in the footsteps of another well know west coast giant. At least Google did create their original flag ship product, unlike the other.
Quote this comment #4.2 Posted by MrCobra on 04 Jul 2007 - 01:43
Patterson didn't write it either. gary Kidall proved in a court of law that MS-DOS (86-DOS) was blatant rip off and that the code in MS-DOS was pirated code.

OT: Congrats for Google I guess.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #5 Posted by +d3bruts1d on 03 Jul 2007 - 10:29
Wonder how long it'll take before you can get all of your phone numbers through GMail/GTalk account. GMail already handles voice messages, so they've got the "answering machine" in place.
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #6 Posted by Netrack on 03 Jul 2007 - 13:03
wasnt this already posted?
Quote this comment #6.1 Posted by Netrack on 03 Jul 2007 - 13:07
yup it was

http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=41124
Quote this comment #6.2 Posted by vetSlimy on 03 Jul 2007 - 23:41
Quote - (Netrack said @ #6.1)
yup it was

http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=41124

Uh, no. That was discussions of the acquisition. This is the acquisition.
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