Google to shut down GrandCentral website
By Joshua Seed, 23 November 2009 - 01:38 13 comments
As stated in an email to GrandCentral users, Google will shut down the website to their earlier telephone service prior to Google Voice, on December 31, 2009.
Users were upgraded to Google Voice earlier this year, but old GrandCentral messages are still stored on the old website. Google suggests that those who wish to keep their messages, download them before the December deadline.
The email reads as follows:
From: voice-noreply@grandcentral.com
Date: November 20, 2009 11:55:25 PM PST
To:
Subject: The GrandCentral website is shutting down – GrandCentral is now Google Voice.
Dear GrandCentral User:
We're writing to let you know that we will be closing down the GrandCentral website as of December 31, 2009.
All GrandCentral accounts were upgraded to Google Voice earlier this year, but since that time, you've still been able to log-in to your GrandCentral account and listen to old messages there. You will no longer be able to log-in to your GrandCentral account after December 31. Because of this, we strongly suggest downloading any messages or contacts that you want to keep in the next 43 days.
We will send you another reminder before closing down the site, but we suggest you take action now to download any information you want to keep.
- The Google Voice Team
Closing GrandCentral is one of the many changes being made before Google Voice opens to the public shortly.
Comments (13)
SmNet - 23 November 2009 - 02:29
Didnt know what grandcentral even was!
So did google give out invites to all GC users?
The Real Alex - 23 November 2009 - 03:09
I think yes by earlier this year. I can't recall.
nub - 23 November 2009 - 04:07
"Users were upgraded to Google Voice earlier this year"
green_link - 23 November 2009 - 02:32
any word for service in Canada yet?
Skyhawker - 23 November 2009 - 03:54
I still don't have Google Voice access in Australia
I got an invite to it from Google, and then it's not available!
wemadeFOX.Devaztayta - 23 November 2009 - 04:08
never heard of grand central.
still1 - 23 November 2009 - 05:00
I know what google voice is but still could understand the use of it..
Amodin - 23 November 2009 - 15:00
It's a great tool for people like me who have no telephone service at home, and have a company cell phone. I can just give everyone my Google Voice number, and that will forward to whatever phone number I want and take my messages if I don't answer my phone(s).
That way, if I ever left the company or changed my number, I don't have to give yet another number to everyone I know.
They can just call the number I gave them and they can still get a hold of me (provided I've done my part and changed the forwarding) 
M_Lyons10 - 23 November 2009 - 17:30
That way, if I ever left the company or changed my number, I don't have to give yet another number to everyone I know.
They can just call the number I gave them and they can still get a hold of me (provided I've done my part and changed the forwarding) :)
That's a very good use case. I can see the service making a lot of sense in that situation.
vaximily - 23 November 2009 - 16:56
LOL lovely... when did neowin start deleting comments without notification or any real justification?
I still think this is not news worthy, have fun deleting another thread.
Sartoris - 24 November 2009 - 03:21
I still think this is not news worthy, have fun deleting another thread.
If it isn't newsworthy to you, keep your mouth shut. Thanks.
M_Lyons10 - 23 November 2009 - 17:31
I remember hearing about this quite a while ago (Must have been at the beginning of the year). I thought this was already shut down to be honest...
Amodin - 24 November 2009 - 15:03
They had made the announcement that GrandCentral was being moved to Google Voice, and that it would be completely moved over at some point, just never gave a definitive answer. I just got my e-mail about the shut down yesterday.