The GrandCentral website is shutting down, Google Voice Will Take Over.

GrandCentral Closing Down snapvoip.blogspot.com

Google Voice Team Announced today that the GrandCentral website will be shutdown from December 31. The team is advising any users to get all their belonging that you want to keep before the closing. Once the site is closed, it will be gone for ever.
If you were a GrandCentral user, you would have received the following message;

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 before December 31.
We suggest you take action now to download any information you want to keep.
- The Google Voice Team

GrandCentral Website Will Shutdown On December 31, 2009

GrandCentral Site Shutting Down snapvoip.blogspot.com

Google Voice has informed all the GrandCentral users the iminent shutdown of GranfCentral website. Grand Central is now Google Voice.
Google left the site running even after launching the Google Voice so that users could down load messages etc. But that has been a long time now. Google sent out the following message;

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

Bye Bye GrandCentral!

Calling Canada Is Free Again With Google Voice

Free Calls To Canada With Google Voice.
When the Google Voice was known as GrandCentral, I used to call my buddies and some professors in British Colombia for free. When Google Voice came about, I lost that ability but still I could call any where free within the United States.
I read today that Google Voice has brought the feature back and I will be able to call my contacts in Canada for free and my account balance will not drop when I call those contacts in BC. Thank you GV,
Also the introduction to Google Voice series, Google Voice For Newbies by the Googlers, Heather and Carol has a new article explaining Why Google Voice users are calling themselves.
Yes I did too call myself (from home phone to cell or vice versa) in the beginning but those days are long gone. But they are talking about how Google Voice works! It is cool when you realize that GV rings both the ends of the conversation.

The article has very valuable tips for new users of Google Voice, like explaining that your contacts are shared among applications like GMail and that and remembering your choices at the computer you were initiating the call.
If you need further help, in making calls, GV has an entire article on making calls under the help topics.
Enjoy your conversations, in many a ways!

Google Voice Blog: Calls to Canada are free again
Google Voice Blog: Google Voice for Newbies: Why am I calling myself?

Tags: Google Voice, Google Voice Tips, GrandCentral, free calls to Canada

Google Voice Invitations Are On The Way

Google Voice Goes Public
Google Voice has began sending out invitations to those who requested one. We of course long time GrandCentral customers were the first to get the Google Voice service. I am, as I have mentioned before, a very happy Google Voice user and I feel that it could only get better.

So if you have got your invite, get ready to get your new phone number or assign your existing number to Google Voice. Either way this could be your number for life! Once you do get a number, you can read our article like making calls with Google Voice, Import Your Contacts Into Google Voice and many others that we plan to bring in.
If you have not registered, visit Google Voice and request an invite to Google Voice.
Official Google Blog: Google Voice invites on their way

Tags: making calls with Google Voice, Import Your Contacts Into Google Voice, Google Voice Invites, Grandcentral

Google Voice To Go Public Soon?

Google Voice.
I have been enjoying Google Voice, which I got in due to being a customer of GrandCentral, for a few moths now. I have had mixed results and mostly the service is in positive side. Initially I / we had some connection issues but they seem to have gone away now. I even have Google Voice on iPhone. In addition to GrandCentral services, Google Voice added SMS, Voicemail transcript, Conference calling and low priced international calling.

Right now the word is that Google Voice might be ready to go public. According to Network World, Google has received one million phone numbers.
Us the early users are enjoying the phone numbers provided by Level 3 and if these one million numbers are right, it could be good news for people waiting to add Google Voice to their Accounts.
Of course Google has not confirmed the issues sighting "as a matter of policy, we typically do not comment on contracts with third-party technology suppliers."
There were also reports that Google Voice will support number portability and allow users to assign their own numbers to the service.
But all in all Google Voice some thing I am very glad to have.
Networkworld

Tags: Google Voice, GrandCentral, number portability, SMS, Voicemail transcript, Conference calling, low priced international calling

Import Your Contacts Into Google Voice

Import contacts into Google Voice
Of course you will want to bring your address books to Google Voice from various Email and other services. What prompted me to write this was I had to help a friend bring all his contacts from GrandCentral. When he migrated to Google Voice, for what ever the reason,his contacts did not come along.
Most email programs and personal information manager programs allows you to export your contacts to a CSV file. But if yours does not provide that capability, you will need to create a csv file so that you can import your contacts to Google Voice. You can get some help in creating a CSV file from Google help.

It is easier to export data to a CSV file from GrandCentral. You will have to log into your GrandCentral account at GrandCentral, yes your old account is still there.

1. Click the Address Book tab in your GrandCentral account and click Export.
2. Click the CSV File button.
3. Save the file to your desktop.
   

Once you have your CSV file (contacts.csv the export program from GrandCentral named the file such):

1. Sign in to Google Voice.
2. Click Contacts on any Google Voice page.
3. Click Import in the top right portion of the Contacts section.
4. Click the Browse... button and find the CSV file you'd like to upload.
5. Select the file and click the Import button and your contacts should be transferred to Google Voice.

Now you should be a happy camper in Google Voice with all your contacts.
I found this info at Google.

Tags: GrandCentral, Google Voice, Import contacts into Google Voice

Fight Phone Spam With Google Voice

Phone Spam
One feature in the Google Voice (which was a part of GrandCentral as well) that is very useful is that the ability to mark a caller as spam, just like you do in your Gmail. Once tagged no more future calls from that phone to you. The caller will not be in your message list (Voicemail) but as I said, just like in Gmail, will go straight to your spam folder.
This will only affect your account and the blocked numbers are not shared among other Google Voice users.
But there are exceptions to the private list of spammers. Google Voice will block reported and confirmed phone spammers, like automated dialers that call you everyday.
One I really like to get blocked is the annoying calls trying to con you into buying a vehicle warranty. Previously I could only play along with them if I had time. Now I can block them straight away!
According to Google Voice blog post bellow, there are tens of thousands spam phone calls are blocked, thanks to Google Voice.


Google Voice Blog: Helping you fight Phone Spam

http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

Tags: Google Voice, GrandCentral, Phone Spam

What Will Happen To GrandCentral Accounts After Upgrading to Google Voice

According to Vincent Paquet you will be able to access the GrandCentral account even after upgrading to Google Voice. But do not expect to see new call logs or voicemails at the GC. Only the old ones will be there. But in my case it will be empty as I have cleared up everything for impending upgrade.

Google Voice Blog: Accessing GrandCentral after upgrading to Google Voice

Tags: Google Voice, GrandCentral

Upgrading To Google Voice

SnapVoIP
Craig Walker (If you are a GrandCentral user, you know him, he is on your contact list!) has another post on tips in upgrading GrandCentral Google Voice.
My own account says "Your account is not yet ready to be upgraded. Please check back shortly. " and was provided with a link to Craigs blog post.
But when all good and my account is ready to be upgtaded, an "UPGRADE" button will appear in the same space. When you push the button, all the new features like Voice transcription , SMS, conference calling, cheap international calling, Goog411 integration, made available to you.
Craig also states that new voicemail and SMS will arrive in my inbox at Google Voice. You will also be able to get old vocemail messages at GrandCentral. I just cleaned up my voicemail and call logs.
I wonder if I can forward them to my GMail account? That will be trully great as I have my GMail account on my iPhone.
UPDATE: Yes I can get email notifications, according to the video below.

The post also tell you after you upgrade to Google Voice;
1. Re-record your voicemail greeting
2. Re-record your user name (callers hear this the first time they call you if Screening is on) 3. Select any custom settings you want (display caller ID, screening on/off, etc.)
Good luck with new Google Voice account! (I am waiting)



Google Voice Blog: Tips on upgrading

Tags: Google Voice, GrandCentral, Voice transcription, SMS, conference calling, cheap international calling, Goog411 integration, Google voice tips, Upgrading To Google Voice

Here comes Google Voice, Revamped Grand Central

I am a fan and a regular user of GrandCentral, long before Google acquired Grandcentral. It allows you to use a single number to ring your home, work, and mobile phones, a central voicemail inbox that you could access on the web, and the ability to screen calls.All are very valuable to me.
Now Google has added Voice Transcripts of the voicemail and archive and search SMS texts that you send and receive, when it renamed GrandCentral to Google Voice.

In addition, you can also make low priced international calls and dial in to Goog-411 for directory assistance.Craig Walker has a Post on Grandcentral Blog as well! (Moving to Google Voice!)

Now in the back of my mind I wonder if this has got anything to do with, Google discontinuing to support third party SMS apps via Gmail? like infinite SMS.
If you're a GrandCentral user, Google says that over the next couple of days, you will receive instructions in your GrandCentral inbox on how to start using Google Voice. If you are not a Grandcentral user and if you'd like to be notified, when the service opens to others, You can send Google your email address.
I am waiting!


Official Google Blog: Here comes Google Voice

http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

Tags: Google Voice, GOOG-411, GrandCentral