The Help Centers

I have a home phone, business phone, cell phone, and even a VOIP number.  Yeah that’s a LOT to keep track of and tell people.  Plus it’s always great to have a person ‘loose’ your number.  There is a GREAT service that was bought out by Google and it works great.  Clients don’t know if I’m in the office, on the road or at home.  I can screen calls and even listen in as they leave a voice-mail.  Read More Below...

The service is Grand Central and it’s free right now.  It doesn’t cost anything as it IS in beta  it’s invite only so if you want to join you have to ask someone already subscribed.

Now onto some features.

It works with Cell and Landlines and even some VOIP providers (mostly Gizmo Project. You can setup several phone number to ring when your Grand Central number is called and even tell what calling numbers to let ring which phones. For example that annoying client can call only your cell and work phone but your significant other’s call goes everywhere. You can even force certain numbers to voicemail.

It has a spam/block capability and can use a global black list to prevent telemarketers from abusing the system. Anonymous, Blocked or Unavailable callers must state their name BEFORE your phone rings. So even then you have a layer of protection.

You can listen in much like the standard answering machine to see if you want to talk to the person. You can even record conversations you have (yes there are some legal ramifications)

The address book allows you to call from there from any number you click and it calls your number then connects you to who you want to call.

You can pickup your voice-mail and see your incoming calls and other information on the website. However flash is required.

Currently they do charge for outgoing calls but will credit you when you run out during the beta period.

Now the bad things, it WILL cost for outgoing calls and there will probably be additional charged for enhanced service. You CANNOT tie a phone number to more than one Grand Central account this is with either the primary or additional number. This precludes you using two Grand Central accounts. Personally I would like to have my home number called by two accounts as my wife has a separate business. Finally call quality isn’t bad but sometimes it seems a little flaky either that or my mother has TERRIBLE reception with her cell phone.

This is a GREAT way to have add business line without the wiring and problems and help cut down on telemarketers and help you get your work done.  So check out  http://grandcentral.com for more information. If you’d like an account let me know as I have a limited amount of invites left.