grand central telephone service: most effective use
April 9, 2008 by Cash
Back in December, UM fan and friend Jess wrote a great review of online telephone number-juggler Grand Central. I was hesitant at first, but finally set myself up.
(There is a short wait to get a number, as they’re in ‘beta’. I think it took about a week to receive mine).
Being that they haven’t yet integrated text messaging (which in some ways makes it completely worthless; hopefully Google’s acquisition of GC will allow this in the near future) I’ve found one key use for it so far:
Businesses.
I’m talking any business I er, ‘do business’ with (banks, credit card companies, utilities, cell phone provider, etc). Shortly after getting my number I updated ALL my contact information - for any businesses - to use my new Grand Central number.
It’s been a dream come true. Not only can I screen all my calls once per day, from the comfort of my home computer, but it seems telemarketing calls and the like have declined drastically since making the switch too.
I’m no longer paranoid to fill in my phone number on survey forms and the like when the need arises either.
One other awesome perk? The ability to record your incoming calls. I am being interviewed tomorrow (for overseas radio no less) to discuss another of my online ventures, and the ability to commemorate the conversation is a priceless feature.
Grand Central has limitless potential. Let’s just hope they get the text situation sorted sooner than later.
Nice use. Whereas my number simply sends me some old health care company’s patients…
There is an email associated with your phone number which can be setup to forward to your email or your SMS.
5156846244@grandcentral.com
To make sure yours is turned on, login and then
(1) click SETTINGS tab
(2) click NOTIFICATIONS button on left
The bottom half of the page is where you can turn it on and say to where it will forward.
Cash,
Can you invite me in?
Thanks and cheers,
Steve
Dwight; I’m talking about being able to forward text messages to my phone that were originally sent to my grand central number. I don’t think it handles that.. yet.
Steve; I just confirmed, no invite necessary. Just sign up to be notified when a number’s available. I think it gives you the choice of what area code you want to wait for. Thanks for the comment, good to see you here.
Cash…
Yes, that is what I understood.
You just need to know where to forward the message.
We’re talking about the last box on the page. They just don’t make it as easy as the second box on the page. So, waht you need to do is findout what your cell phone provider has for an email address associated with your SMS. Here is a table to assist you:
Former AT&T Wireless 10DigitPhoneNumber@mmode.com
Example: 9055556543@mmode.com
Cingular 10DigitPhoneNumber@mobile.mycingular.com
Metrocall 10DigitPhoneNumber@page.metrocall.com
Nextel 10DigitPhoneNumber@messaging.nextel.com
Sprint PCS 10DigitPhoneNumber@messaging.sprintpcs.com
T-Mobile 10DigitPhoneNumber@tmomail.net
Verizon 10DigitPhoneNumber@vtext.com
ALLTEL 10DigitPhoneNumber@message.alltel.com