curiousNC
@rr.com | Can someone explain Grand Central? How it functions, what it does, pros and cons... Thanks. | |
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usenet1
@twtelecom.net
| Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? I'll try, although I'm a *VERY* new user myself.
GC provides you with a local incoming phone number at virtually any location in the country which you choose, gratis. It then allows you to manipulate that number in novel and unique ways, like to forward received phone calls to other numbers, even if they would otherwise be long distance.
If a person wishes to have a phone number forever, even if they physically move elsewhere, GC lets you keep the same number.
If you travel, you can have your calls follow you, and this configuration is done on a website after you log in.
Example: You live in San Diego, go visiting to New York. You forward your San Diego number to your Cell till you get to NY, then forward it to where you're staying. Or you have the phone ring in MULTIPLE locations/devices. There is also much more possible. See website for details.
Example2: I have local GC number, but change VoIP provider. I merely use GC number to forward calls to my ever-changing incoming VoIP provider. My callers never know I keep changing providers, as they keep calling the same number.
Perhaps other will elaborate for us as well.
Regards,
Valentin | |
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toro
join:2006-01-27
Scarborough, ON
 ·TekSavvy Solutions..
| Another cool little feature I found with GC is the web call button. Basically you can put a button "Call me" on your web site, linked to your account. When someone clicks it, they will be prompted to enter their number, and GC will call both your number and theirs and connect your call. | |
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 | hillsdalebob
join:2006-05-15
Hillsdale, MI
| Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? I also like the web call button feature. If you don't have a web site you can just paste the link they give you for the web call button into an email, email it to all your friends, and when your friends click on the link in the email the same thing happens - a grand central web site will open in their browser asking for their phone number. When they enter in their phone number grand central will call them on that phone number and when they answer Grand Central will call you on your Grand Central number - connecting the two calls for FREE. | |
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| | rmcclarty
join:2006-08-22
37700 | Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? Based on your web call idea, one could include this "link" in their email signature at the bottom of each email. I have tried it but it really doesn't show as a link, more as web code and nothing happens when clicked? What am I doing wrong? | |
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usenet1
@qwest.net
| Re: Can someone explain Grand Central?
First, let's clarify E-mail. These days, email comes in two varieties. *REAL* email, and then webmail.
To use REAL email, you must have an email client installed on your computer, like Thunderbird, Outlook, Outlook Express, etc. These clients for real email have one advantage, among many others, of being capable of displaying HTML code natively.
Webmail, on the other hand, is a sorry substitute for the real thing, and only requires a web browser to connect and get your mail. MOST of the major providers of webmail prohibit the display of HTML code, first of all because of how lame and insecure Windows is, and because if HTML displays by default in the webmail, code nasties are propagated far too easily.
Therefore, if you include code on your email for webcalling, it might or MIGHT NOT display in the recipient's mail. If you KNOW FOR CERTAIN that your recipient uses real email, then no problem. If they use a webmail client, then odds are that they don't see what you think you sent. Webmail callback was really designed for WebPage use, but can be and is sometimes usable for email usage, subject to the above conditions.
Regards,
Valentin | |
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| | | | hillsdalebob
join:2006-05-15
Hillsdale, MI
| Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? Hmm, when I insert the code like: »embed.grandcentral.com/webcall/f···slkej876 into my yahoo email and send it to someone that uses yahoo it works. Obviously your link (the last part) will be different. You get the code when you set up a webcall button. | |
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tcallan
join:2007-07-18
Clifton Park, NY
| I'm surprised that no one talked about the big advantage of GrandCentral, the control over voicemail.
Sure it rings multiple phones, but when it does, it announces the caller and asks what you want to do 1) Take the Call, 2) Send the Call to Voicemail, 3) "Listen-in" to the caller record voicemail, and decide if you want to pick up, as you would with an answering machine, or 4) Take the call and record it.
This is the annoying part for people who just want to use GC as a regular inbound line, with their own answering machine or voicemail. But that's not what GC is for, and having to punch a key guarantees that your cell won't pick up the call, and all VM will go to GC.
That voicemail, well, that's power. You can set up greetings for groups or individual numbers, route only certain calls to ring your phones at different times, even have a "number not in service" played. VMs come to your mailbox and are filed in the web interface, easy to manage.
Sure, GrandCentral rings multiple phones, but it gives lots of options about how to answer your phone, manage callers, and store voicemails.
And then there is the part with outbound calling, free during beta, which some people even use with their cellphone, either with a "circle" calling plan or by initiating calls through the web to a phone near them, or both.
I'm sure there is more, but Grand Central is a whole lot to get your arms around in one pass. Powerful service there. | |
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| beaver
join:2006-03-12 | Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? I missed the GC application, have to in a long queue to waiting its re-open. | |
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fixup
join:2007-01-26
| The point of web call: your caller ID is your GC # not your cell phone #.
It is good to use GC as the central phonebook, in addition to using it as a central voice mailbox. You can import/export the phonebook as an Excel file.
Everyone, every family needs GC, period. | |
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| minamelos
join:2002-04-09
Hacienda Heights, CA
| Invite? I just checked out the website and they say this: "GrandCentral is currently a private beta service, which means you must receive an invite from GrandCentral or a GrandCentral user to sign up."
Will a current user to send me an invite to sign up?
Thanks. | |
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| | mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA
| Re: Invite? said by minamelos  :Will a current user to send me an invite to sign up? If you can tell me where on a GC site to send an invitation link, I sure will be more than happy to comply and send you an invitation.  | |
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VZE
@verizon.com | When did this start? | |
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VZE
@verizon.com | good point mazilo.....only took me like a half-hour to stumble into the notice about the site being beta and all...can only imagine what it looks like once your logged in... | |
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| mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA
| Re: Invite? said by VZE :
good point mazilo.....only took me like a half-hour to stumble into the notice about the site being beta and all...can only imagine what it looks like once your logged in... Well, I logged into my account and still could not find the invitation button where it used to be. So, this means no more invitation at the moment.  | |
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mod_wastrel
join:2008-03-28 | Re: Invite? There's at least some possibility that this is an indicator that they're planning to open it up for anyone to sign-up directly--skip the need for invitations altogether. | |
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| | | Usenet1
join:2008-04-07
87100
| Re: Invite?
When I first heard of GrandCentral, it was open to anyone to subscribe. It *had* been private Beta, and by invitation only.
Then I stumbled upon posts here which indicated that it was freely open. Sure enough, I subbed and got a couple of local numbers. It has since closed again.
Never fear....with Google's capital behind the operation now, it will open again with a TidalWave of a splash!
Patience, young grasshopper....
Regards,
--
Valentin | |
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mod_wastrel
join:2008-03-28
 ·magicjack.com
| Re: Invite? Thanks, yeah, I've been using it for not quite a year now. GrandCentral (with GizmoProject) has been my primary number for most of that time. Works great. I do wonder about their pricing plans once it leaves Beta... just how cheap those features I use will be. (I don't really use "the phone" all that much.) | |
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| mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA | Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? said by Subaru :what is the point of a private beta? Privilege? | |
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ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Bridgeport, WV
clubs:
·VOIPo
| Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? said by mazilo :said by Subaru :what is the point of a private beta? Privilege? And a controlled set of users to cut down or eliminate abuse?? | |
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VZE
@verizon.com
| I'd just like a cheap Voip service with a true softphone that doesn't require a ATA (hence GC)...this way I could forward all my numbers to it and take calls through my laptop since I'm always on a LAN/BB connection....then I could use my bluetooth headset and not have to have battle with chitty cell service and battery life when I'm not in the car...ahh the wonders of IP | |
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| mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA
| Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? said by VZE :
I'd just like a cheap Voip service with a true softphone that doesn't require a ATA (hence GC)... IIRC, the free services provided by GC isn't a VoIP based service. OTOH, the free services provided by Brring (ads driven) are VoIP based service. | |
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| | rmcclarty
join:2006-08-22
37700 | Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? Can I fwd my Brring number to a Grandcentral number so that I can have multiple area codes (free for local callers) feeding to my one GC number that rings through my DTA to Gizmo Project? | |
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| | | mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA
| Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? said by rmcclarty :Can I fwd my Brring number to a Grandcentral number so that I can have multiple area codes (free for local callers) feeding to my one GC number that rings through my DTA to Gizmo Project? I have my Brring number forwarded to my GC. BTW, you don't need an invite to open a Brring account; however, if you know someone who already has a Brring account, you certainly can ask hi/her to send you an invitation and your friend will get $1.00 credited to his account. Sort of a way for Brring to say thank you.
--
Mazilo always prays for FREEBIES!
US Phone: +1-678-601-0907
UK Phone: +44-703-194-2574
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| | | | rmcclarty
join:2006-08-22
37700 | Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? trying to do it, but when it rings my gc number it won't accept the dmtf to let me complete registration? | |
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| | | | | mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA
| Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? said by rmcclarty :trying to do it, but when it rings my gc number it won't accept the dmtf to let me complete registration? If you read my posts on other thread, you should notice that I have encountered this problem, too. To resolve the DTMF detection problem, I forwarded the incoming calls on my Brring to FreeDigits to my asterisk to my PAP2v1. | |
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| | | | | | rmcclarty
join:2006-08-22
37700
| Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? Work around:
The Brring service works great along with GrandCentral. Follow these steps to get your Brring account working with your GrandCentral number:
- Register with Brring using your GrandCentral number as your private phone number.
- Brring will try to make an automated call to finalize your registration but it won’t work so just follow the next couple steps to get it set up:
- Add your Brring number to your GrandCentral address book.
- Go to your address book and then use the call button to call your Brring number. This will make the phone you registered with at GrandCentral ring. Pick it up and follow the automated instructions to complete your Brring account setup. | |
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mod_wastrel
join:2008-03-28 | Brring looks like a good reason to have a "Please Call Me" list where you can sign up to have telemarketers call you as much as their little hearts desire.
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| | jimboe
join:2000-08-14
New York
 ·Optimum Online
| said by mazilo :said by VZE :
I'd just like a cheap Voip service with a true softphone that doesn't require a ATA (hence GC)... IIRC, the free services provided by GC isn't a VoIP based service. OTOH, the free services provided by Brring (ads driven) are VoIP based service. ..I had thought the same, but was told otherwise in another thread here recently...
I still wonder. | |
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John Stetner
@comcast.net | Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? Can somone please send vgrussupp@gmail.com an invite? Thanks | |
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| | | | mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA | Re: Can someone explain Grand Central? said by John Stetner :
Can somone please send vgrussupp@gmail.com an invite? Thanks Currently, GC invite has been inactive and we don't know when GC will reactivate this feature again. | |
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| | | | Usenet1
join:2008-04-07
87100
| said by John Stetner :
Can somone please send vgrussupp@gmail.com an invite? Thanks
As Mazilo stated, the Invite function is not active at this time. However, I'd add that to expedite your request for Grand Central services/subscription, you should consider going to the GC website, and registering for notification regarding the number in the area code you wish. That way, you'll receive the invite/notification directly from them when it's available.
By examining the website you'll find the pages where you can choose the Area Code/State in which you'd like your number, and on that page, you input your email address to facilitate them notifying you directly. | |
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