GrabBag: GrandCentral Beta Invite
Who wants free voicemail? Ok so it’s likely to be free only during the Beta. Don’t quite know yet at this point since ubiquitous Google who bought over the company is known for lots of free software. But, let’s dive right in. What is GrandCentral?
At the heart, it’s really a voice mail box but it comes with lots of really cool features. One of which gets me really excited is the WebCall. Join me as I walk through my GrandCentral account in this video.
There are a few things I didn’t get in on that video and I’ll take the time to mention it now. The Inbox has some really nifty features. As you’ll see in this screen shot.
If you repeatedly get unsolicited calls from this person you can mark it as spam. You can also forward the message to a someone like an associate or customer service to keep them in the loop. You can send them an email reply, make notes, map from where they call from but here’s the real neato part. You can post the voice mail to your web site or blog. That is a very neat feature. For example, you can use this to take audio comments or audio testimonials.
When you visit GrandCentral, you’ll see that signup is by invite only. But I have 3 invites just begging to be given away. Want an invite? Then here’s what you do.
- Leave a comment of at least 100 words. Let me know if you have a voice mail service now, why you want to change if you do and how you plan to use your GrandCentral account.
- You should leave your comments by 12 a.m. US Eastern Time, Saturday, November 3rd, 2007.
- Lucky winners will be announced on this blog Sunday or Monday.
Know of someone who could use an invite? Let them know!
Edited to add:
Hey everyone – I finally managed to get a screen capture app that would work with my Palm. Here’s a screen capture of my GrandCentral Inbox for those who use mobile devices. Names have been blanked out.
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I’m not vying for one of the invites, as I already have a Grand Central account.
Just want your readers to know, Lynette, that this program is worth buying if there was a cost. For me, Grand Central is similar to a social secretary, screening calls as they arrive in my office, and the ability to subscribe to a phone number within any U.S. area code is outstanding.
I can’t believe there is no one replying to this offer thus far, but it’s early. I know there will be responses soon.
Shirley
I’m not vying for one of the invites, as I already have a Grand Central account.
Just want your readers to know, Lynette, that this program is worth buying if there was a cost. For me, Grand Central is similar to a social secretary, screening calls as they arrive in my office, and the ability to subscribe to a phone number within any U.S. area code is outstanding.
I can’t believe there is no one replying to this offer thus far, but it’s early. I know there will be responses soon.
Shirley
Lynette:
I think that this sounds like a phenomenal idea. I’d seen Grand Central in the past, but never signed up for it. For whatever reason, I didn’t stop and think about it or how I could use it. After all, the last thing I need is another phone number, fax number, screen name or email address! (I’m sure you can relate!)
However, after seeing this again, based on my work practices, this is exactly something that I could utilize in my business to make me more effective. I don’t like to answer the phone when I’m involved in client work. I like to devote my time to my client and do not welcome distractions.
Often times, I turn the ringer off and then forget to turn it back on.
I would love the ability to just check my voice mails in between projects or have the ability to still be accessible by phone while traveling without having to give people my cell phone number. (Currently, I forward my house/business phone to my cell phone, but then I get all the calls… including those telemarketing calls!)
And the fact that I could use it for audio testimonials and to post welcome messages to my website just sweetens the deal. I probably wouldn’t need my BYOAudio account anymore! I’m sure I’m not using it to the best of my abilities.
Thanks for the offers for the invites! 🙂
Heather
Hi, Lynette,
I guess I’m a real sucker for Google products, so if they are offering this, I need it! My current voice mail with my local phone company is a disaster. Half the time, there’s no beep tone to let me know someone has left a message, so unless I call it every single day to see if there is something there, messages could languish for weeks before being discovered. That’s just plain inefficient.
I’d use the Grand Central Account so that my customers would have an easy and surefire way to contact me other than e-mail. Sometimes overzealous spam filters gobble up a communication, and a customer is left wondering if I answered their inquiry. Grand Central would let them leave a quick voice message for me, and it would be simple for me to see when I have a message.
I like your idea of using it to let clients and support people call you, and I’d love to have a number!
Thanks-
Janice Campbell
Lynette:
I think that this sounds like a phenomenal idea. I’d seen Grand Central in the past, but never signed up for it. For whatever reason, I didn’t stop and think about it or how I could use it. After all, the last thing I need is another phone number, fax number, screen name or email address! (I’m sure you can relate!)
However, after seeing this again, based on my work practices, this is exactly something that I could utilize in my business to make me more effective. I don’t like to answer the phone when I’m involved in client work. I like to devote my time to my client and do not welcome distractions.
Often times, I turn the ringer off and then forget to turn it back on.
I would love the ability to just check my voice mails in between projects or have the ability to still be accessible by phone while traveling without having to give people my cell phone number. (Currently, I forward my house/business phone to my cell phone, but then I get all the calls… including those telemarketing calls!)
And the fact that I could use it for audio testimonials and to post welcome messages to my website just sweetens the deal. I probably wouldn’t need my BYOAudio account anymore! I’m sure I’m not using it to the best of my abilities.
Thanks for the offers for the invites! 🙂
Heather
Hi, Lynette,
I guess I’m a real sucker for Google products, so if they are offering this, I need it! My current voice mail with my local phone company is a disaster. Half the time, there’s no beep tone to let me know someone has left a message, so unless I call it every single day to see if there is something there, messages could languish for weeks before being discovered. That’s just plain inefficient.
I’d use the Grand Central Account so that my customers would have an easy and surefire way to contact me other than e-mail. Sometimes overzealous spam filters gobble up a communication, and a customer is left wondering if I answered their inquiry. Grand Central would let them leave a quick voice message for me, and it would be simple for me to see when I have a message.
I like your idea of using it to let clients and support people call you, and I’d love to have a number!
Thanks-
Janice Campbell
Too cool! I have an unlisted home phone number, and I do what I can to keep it private. I currently use ‘Private Phone’, which is a pretty decent service by NetZero. But the idea of visitors and potential customers being able to leave me a message directly from my website is a marketer’s dream – at least this marketer’s dream! 🙂 I’m working on a tutorial website, and posting a “call me” link after each section would be a phenomenal way of showing my commitment to my visitors. And I’m guessing it’s all accessible from your Google account? Thanks for sharing another great tool Lynette!
~Stephanie
Too cool! I have an unlisted home phone number, and I do what I can to keep it private. I currently use ‘Private Phone’, which is a pretty decent service by NetZero. But the idea of visitors and potential customers being able to leave me a message directly from my website is a marketer’s dream – at least this marketer’s dream! 🙂 I’m working on a tutorial website, and posting a “call me” link after each section would be a phenomenal way of showing my commitment to my visitors. And I’m guessing it’s all accessible from your Google account? Thanks for sharing another great tool Lynette!
~Stephanie
I so need a voice mail account. Right now I am advertising my cel lphone number and obviously I am getting calls from sales people..most trying to sell me SEO services or the like. I also get many callers who want to sell me wholesale products. So I am getting junk calls and now I am kind of avoiding my cell phone if I do not know the number…sigh.
I would really like to have a voice mail service I could promote to get feedback from site visitors and have a way for them to be able to get a hold of me fast if they need too as I have many email accounts and only so many hours.
This sounds like an awesome service that I know I could put to good use. I just LOVE technology!
FYI Lynette – I just tried your ‘call me’ button. It took my name and phone number, but then didn’t allow me to leave a message.
~Stephanie
I so need a voice mail account. Right now I am advertising my cel lphone number and obviously I am getting calls from sales people..most trying to sell me SEO services or the like. I also get many callers who want to sell me wholesale products. So I am getting junk calls and now I am kind of avoiding my cell phone if I do not know the number…sigh.
I would really like to have a voice mail service I could promote to get feedback from site visitors and have a way for them to be able to get a hold of me fast if they need too as I have many email accounts and only so many hours.
This sounds like an awesome service that I know I could put to good use. I just LOVE technology!
FYI Lynette – I just tried your ‘call me’ button. It took my name and phone number, but then didn’t allow me to leave a message.
~Stephanie
What a brilliant idea!
Having a telephone number attached to my site is something I’ve been struggling to find a workable solution to since the beginning. Due to unforeseen circumstance my site went live whilst I was not in my permanent home. So getting land line just wasn’t possible. It’s been on my to do list for a while to look into other options. This option looks great.
Moms can contact me and leave ideas for play-activities, and give feedback. I know it will help with credibility if people visiting the site can see your picture, email you, know how to reach you by mail and get through to voicemail- then you. This will be a great next step for my business especially when seeking joint ventures and just with networking online. My business and personal situation can be properly separate but I’m still accessible. Seems like a win-win situation for all of us!
What a brilliant idea!
Having a telephone number attached to my site is something I’ve been struggling to find a workable solution to since the beginning. Due to unforeseen circumstance my site went live whilst I was not in my permanent home. So getting land line just wasn’t possible. It’s been on my to do list for a while to look into other options. This option looks great.
Moms can contact me and leave ideas for play-activities, and give feedback. I know it will help with credibility if people visiting the site can see your picture, email you, know how to reach you by mail and get through to voicemail- then you. This will be a great next step for my business especially when seeking joint ventures and just with networking online. My business and personal situation can be properly separate but I’m still accessible. Seems like a win-win situation for all of us!
I think this is a great tool to pass on to others. Looking forward to hearing more about it and using it myself!
Kim Beasley, The Blog Queen
http://www.TheBlogQueen.net
http://www.MindingMyBusiness.org
http://www.KimBeasley.com
I think this is a great tool to pass on to others. Looking forward to hearing more about it and using it myself!
Kim Beasley, The Blog Queen
http://www.TheBlogQueen.net
http://www.MindingMyBusiness.org
http://www.KimBeasley.com
I currently use the voice mail service on my telephone. Not only is it expensive but it is another number I have to dial. This service sounds far superior.
I currently use the voice mail service on my telephone. Not only is it expensive but it is another number I have to dial. This service sounds far superior.
Hey Lynette I really love getting your recommendations for products because then I know they are tried and true by you.
I have been trying to find an answering system that will work for me for so long. I receive many business calls for the local networking group I founded and manage as well as inquiries for local events that my business and the networking group hosts.
Currently, I have an answering machine with 3 mailboxes so the callers can press which mailbox to leave their messages in, but not all of them listen to the instructions on my message and the personal callers hate having to hear the whole long drawn out, outgoing message everytime they call here.
I am wondering if trying something like this would solve some of my hassle.
Hey Lynette I really love getting your recommendations for products because then I know they are tried and true by you.
I have been trying to find an answering system that will work for me for so long. I receive many business calls for the local networking group I founded and manage as well as inquiries for local events that my business and the networking group hosts.
Currently, I have an answering machine with 3 mailboxes so the callers can press which mailbox to leave their messages in, but not all of them listen to the instructions on my message and the personal callers hate having to hear the whole long drawn out, outgoing message everytime they call here.
I am wondering if trying something like this would solve some of my hassle.
This is awesome Lynnette, what a great new way to do business over the internet and to have people leave comments on your blog or website. I am interested in trying this out, as I can see wonderful possibilities not only for my internet radio show but for my graphic design business as well.
I have a business line and a cell phone, but to have another business line that is just for voice mail that is available 24 hrs a day 7 days a week would be great.
I can’t wait to hear more.
This is awesome Lynnette, what a great new way to do business over the internet and to have people leave comments on your blog or website. I am interested in trying this out, as I can see wonderful possibilities not only for my internet radio show but for my graphic design business as well.
I have a business line and a cell phone, but to have another business line that is just for voice mail that is available 24 hrs a day 7 days a week would be great.
I can’t wait to hear more.
This looks like a valuable service. I’d agree with Shirley’s comment that it would be worth paying for if it wasn’t free. There are some similar services out there, but this is the first I’ve seen that offers both the “hunting” aspect, redirecting calls based on your instructions, and the “call me” feature for web sites. I may have use for either or both in the near future as I have a fast-growing consulting practice and I intend to expand by improving my web presence. One thing I’d be curious about is how well it will work with PDAs like my Palm Treo. Will I be able to play back voice messages on my Palm or only my desktop? Thanks for the information, Lynette.
This looks like a valuable service. I’d agree with Shirley’s comment that it would be worth paying for if it wasn’t free. There are some similar services out there, but this is the first I’ve seen that offers both the “hunting” aspect, redirecting calls based on your instructions, and the “call me” feature for web sites. I may have use for either or both in the near future as I have a fast-growing consulting practice and I intend to expand by improving my web presence. One thing I’d be curious about is how well it will work with PDAs like my Palm Treo. Will I be able to play back voice messages on my Palm or only my desktop? Thanks for the information, Lynette.
Hi Lynette,
You always seem to find the coolest stuff!
I’m in the process of putting together a membership site and would be very interested in receiving an invite to try out the GrandCentral service.
This membership site is being built around the knowledge and expertise of a single individual – the “guru” so to speak. Obviously posting a direct contact phone number for members to access this person on demand, would make it difficult to run the site efficiently.
The GrandCentral voicemail service sounds like a great tool for providing the next best thing to live phone contact.
Furthermore, the target market for this membership site is a slightly older demographic that frequents print media and hard copy magazine publications more than they visit web sites. I think the more “traditional” phone-in option will be attractive to them.
Doug.
Hi Lynette,
You always seem to find the coolest stuff!
I’m in the process of putting together a membership site and would be very interested in receiving an invite to try out the GrandCentral service.
This membership site is being built around the knowledge and expertise of a single individual – the “guru” so to speak. Obviously posting a direct contact phone number for members to access this person on demand, would make it difficult to run the site efficiently.
The GrandCentral voicemail service sounds like a great tool for providing the next best thing to live phone contact.
Furthermore, the target market for this membership site is a slightly older demographic that frequents print media and hard copy magazine publications more than they visit web sites. I think the more “traditional” phone-in option will be attractive to them.
Doug.
NOTE TO SELF: Offer something with high perceived value and limited availability to get a quick flood of thoughtful (and useful) comments to your blog. Good job Lynette. 🙂
NOTE TO SELF: Offer something with high perceived value and limited availability to get a quick flood of thoughtful (and useful) comments to your blog. Good job Lynette. 🙂
I think this would be very convenient and best of all free. You can filter your calls, especially for a website. Mine is on Verizon, but I just have affiliates on it now. I also turn the ringer off of my phone and many times forget to turn it back on. I don’t like sales calls especially from schools I have attended, they always want money, of course. Google usually gives away very good products and I use their search engine all the time. Many times if you are busy doing something, you can’t answer the phone just then.
The best things about this product are that it is free and it enhances privacy and security.
I think this would be very convenient and best of all free. You can filter your calls, especially for a website. Mine is on Verizon, but I just have affiliates on it now. I also turn the ringer off of my phone and many times forget to turn it back on. I don’t like sales calls especially from schools I have attended, they always want money, of course. Google usually gives away very good products and I use their search engine all the time. Many times if you are busy doing something, you can’t answer the phone just then.
The best things about this product are that it is free and it enhances privacy and security.
Hi everyone whoa! I am blown away by all the feedback. Voicemail seems like such a basic thing and yet a good service is so hard to find isn’t it? Like many of you I’ve been looking for a long, long time and only using.
Shirley, you are so right. I would pay for this service when they come out of Beta.
Doug – I love your idea about using it in a membership site. You get 6 numbers you can forward to. Plenty of ways to use it!
Heather – that’s the way it was for me. I used my cell phone – let it go to voicemail but keep forgetting to turn it on or check voicemail.
Stephanie – I got your call. But I think what may have happened is I may have pressed the wrong button. But it could be GrandCentral burped too. It is in beta but a very fun Beta though. So sorry but it would’ve been so cool to hear your mesage!
I can’t wait to hear from the rest of you.
Hi everyone whoa! I am blown away by all the feedback. Voicemail seems like such a basic thing and yet a good service is so hard to find isn’t it? Like many of you I’ve been looking for a long, long time and only using.
Shirley, you are so right. I would pay for this service when they come out of Beta.
Doug – I love your idea about using it in a membership site. You get 6 numbers you can forward to. Plenty of ways to use it!
Heather – that’s the way it was for me. I used my cell phone – let it go to voicemail but keep forgetting to turn it on or check voicemail.
Stephanie – I got your call. But I think what may have happened is I may have pressed the wrong button. But it could be GrandCentral burped too. It is in beta but a very fun Beta though. So sorry but it would’ve been so cool to hear your mesage!
I can’t wait to hear from the rest of you.
Lynette, saw your twitter on this and came right over. I’m real interested in this service for my business. I currently have voicemail for my cell, but I mostly use my cell for family calls (gotta keep in touch with my teens!) and I think this voicemail service would be ideal to set up for business calls/messages. Having the two separate would be ideal for me. I don’t know if this service will at some point move to a paid-only service, at which time I will have to see if it’s worth keeping, but at this point, it is sure something I would like to try out. It would be great to get an invite for this free service. Thank you!
Lynette, saw your twitter on this and came right over. I’m real interested in this service for my business. I currently have voicemail for my cell, but I mostly use my cell for family calls (gotta keep in touch with my teens!) and I think this voicemail service would be ideal to set up for business calls/messages. Having the two separate would be ideal for me. I don’t know if this service will at some point move to a paid-only service, at which time I will have to see if it’s worth keeping, but at this point, it is sure something I would like to try out. It would be great to get an invite for this free service. Thank you!
Hi Lynette,
I agree with everyone who has responded. It is an awsome chance to expand our businessses no matter what they are.
I have been looking for a good phone service, too, for a long time.
I hate giving out my cell since I do have a “day job” and they really do frown on me taking calls for my own business. Can’t imagine why 🙂
This sounds like an awsome tool and has lots of possibilities.
Thank you for offering this. You really do come up with the coolest tools.
Hi Lynette,
I agree with everyone who has responded. It is an awsome chance to expand our businessses no matter what they are.
I have been looking for a good phone service, too, for a long time.
I hate giving out my cell since I do have a “day job” and they really do frown on me taking calls for my own business. Can’t imagine why 🙂
This sounds like an awsome tool and has lots of possibilities.
Thank you for offering this. You really do come up with the coolest tools.
Hi, Lynette.Thanks for sharing this resource and DO put me in the running for one of your invites!
It’s amazing to see how quickly Google is taking over Cyberspace–and all by making good tools available free. I’m already using Google docs and spreadsheets to co-ordinate work with partners. Adding Grand Central to the mix will have real advantages.
One of the things that’s challenging about the digital age is trying to keep up with all the ways we have to communicate. I have to keep up with business partners, magazine subscribers, buyers, family and friends through a combination of landline phones, cell phones, several email accounts and I-don’t-know how many social network sites. Not a day passes that I don’t scream “Why isn’t there one way to co-ordinate all this?!!” Looks like Grand Central, added to Google’s other online apps, will go a long way towards taming the beast that is online communication.
Bonnie Boots, Publisher
The Internet Wizards Magazine
http://www.theinternetwizards.com
Hi, Lynette.Thanks for sharing this resource and DO put me in the running for one of your invites!
It’s amazing to see how quickly Google is taking over Cyberspace–and all by making good tools available free. I’m already using Google docs and spreadsheets to co-ordinate work with partners. Adding Grand Central to the mix will have real advantages.
One of the things that’s challenging about the digital age is trying to keep up with all the ways we have to communicate. I have to keep up with business partners, magazine subscribers, buyers, family and friends through a combination of landline phones, cell phones, several email accounts and I-don’t-know how many social network sites. Not a day passes that I don’t scream “Why isn’t there one way to co-ordinate all this?!!” Looks like Grand Central, added to Google’s other online apps, will go a long way towards taming the beast that is online communication.
Bonnie Boots, Publisher
The Internet Wizards Magazine
http://www.theinternetwizards.com
I’m back everyone. Really enjoy reading all your comments. We all live such busy lives it’s amazing how we get through the day sometimes 🙂
Doug – I got your voicemail! Pretty cool eh?
Stuart – Always good to see another Palm user around here. The answer is yes you can access GrandCentral from your Mobile Device. You can read more about that here:
http://www.grandcentral.com/support/gcmobile/
Looks like Treo, Windows Mobile and Blackberry users are in luck. I am so glad you brought this up. There are so many features I couldn’t pack in here. Just tested it out on my Palm TX and it does work. The only hitch and I don’t think it will be a problem for the phones is, I had to download the MP3 file before being able to play it.
I’m back everyone. Really enjoy reading all your comments. We all live such busy lives it’s amazing how we get through the day sometimes 🙂
Doug – I got your voicemail! Pretty cool eh?
Stuart – Always good to see another Palm user around here. The answer is yes you can access GrandCentral from your Mobile Device. You can read more about that here:
http://www.grandcentral.com/support/gcmobile/
Looks like Treo, Windows Mobile and Blackberry users are in luck. I am so glad you brought this up. There are so many features I couldn’t pack in here. Just tested it out on my Palm TX and it does work. The only hitch and I don’t think it will be a problem for the phones is, I had to download the MP3 file before being able to play it.
It would be such a great customer service effort to be able to publish an opportunity for customers to contact me via voicemail, Lynette. There are so many times that I haven’t been at my computer fast enough for some customers and having a client or customer feel as if they can reach you at any time goes a long way in establishing trust.
I would use Grand Central in a few ways. 1) as I said earlier, to establish a trust base with my customers 2) for customers to feel as if they can have immediate contact with me 3) to establish a dialog with affiliates and potential affiliates and 4) to encourage comments and testimonials about my products.
It would be such a great customer service effort to be able to publish an opportunity for customers to contact me via voicemail, Lynette. There are so many times that I haven’t been at my computer fast enough for some customers and having a client or customer feel as if they can reach you at any time goes a long way in establishing trust.
I would use Grand Central in a few ways. 1) as I said earlier, to establish a trust base with my customers 2) for customers to feel as if they can have immediate contact with me 3) to establish a dialog with affiliates and potential affiliates and 4) to encourage comments and testimonials about my products.
Yes – very cool! Is that VOIP? Does GrandCentral bill for long distance charges?
Yes – very cool! Is that VOIP? Does GrandCentral bill for long distance charges?
I currently use eVoice and CallDigits. They both can email the voice message to you directly or you can listen to it over the web, file it, forward to a phone, etc.
eVoice uses its own voice file format and CallDigits uses an MP3 file format. I like that because I can load messages into my iPod if I need to, and take them with me.
I would use Grand Central for both inbound and outbound calls, because I heard that Google is getting into that business. So if I can download MP3 files, or have them emailed to me, or both, and make outbound call, then it could be used to do everything at one site.
Thanks for the info.
–Brian
Assist.com
I currently use eVoice and CallDigits. They both can email the voice message to you directly or you can listen to it over the web, file it, forward to a phone, etc.
eVoice uses its own voice file format and CallDigits uses an MP3 file format. I like that because I can load messages into my iPod if I need to, and take them with me.
I would use Grand Central for both inbound and outbound calls, because I heard that Google is getting into that business. So if I can download MP3 files, or have them emailed to me, or both, and make outbound call, then it could be used to do everything at one site.
Thanks for the info.
–Brian
Assist.com
Hi Lynette,
You are such a wealth of good resources (and reasonably priced ones, too)! Thanks so much for sharing this opportunity with your readers. Right now we are using a personalized ring number that rings to our home phone for the biz…. but the voice mail is very bland “please leave a message” because we use it for all three businesses and home, so callers would be very confused. I’m hoping this service could help mitigate that problem! Thanks again!
Hi Lynette,
You are such a wealth of good resources (and reasonably priced ones, too)! Thanks so much for sharing this opportunity with your readers. Right now we are using a personalized ring number that rings to our home phone for the biz…. but the voice mail is very bland “please leave a message” because we use it for all three businesses and home, so callers would be very confused. I’m hoping this service could help mitigate that problem! Thanks again!
I know it’s late, but if anyone has an invite left I’d love to get one! 🙂
I’m currently using callwave.com which send your text transcriptions of your voicemails, which is nice. I do like the “visual voicemail” component of Grandcentral, thought. I also like the multiple phone ring, call recording and transfer handset features.
Sooo…. anyone willing to send me an invite?
I know it’s late, but if anyone has an invite left I’d love to get one! 🙂
I’m currently using callwave.com which send your text transcriptions of your voicemails, which is nice. I do like the “visual voicemail” component of Grandcentral, thought. I also like the multiple phone ring, call recording and transfer handset features.
Sooo…. anyone willing to send me an invite?