ATTN: GrandCentral users
 

The new GC, now known as Google Voice is starting to become available. It is absolutely killer. Think Gmail for Voice.

Watch your inbox at GC for a notification that you are ready to update. Here is a pretty good review of the new version:\

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/11...ery-very-good/

coooool

(n)

Here's the official "about" page for Google Voice:

https://www.google.com/voice/about

I'm concerned about the privacy implications of some of these features.

dualsub,
I LOVE your avatar!
LOL

Same here

More info.

I've been using it for about a day now. It doesn't use your GrandCentral address book unless you manually import it, rather, it will use your gmail contacts which is better for me. Unfortunately, for hosted accounts there seems to be a problem getting the address book access in GV.

Usually I get about 10-15 voicemails a day and Friday, none! So, I couldn't checkout the transcription feature except for a couple of test calls. It worked very well.

You can SMS right from GV and if someone sends a SMS to your GV account, it will forward to your mobile. You can also SMS from your mobile using the GV number so your cell number is completely transparent. I haven't been able to get the forwarding to work yet.

The web site is nicely updated but the mobile site on my BB doesn't look as streamlined as the old site. I guess I'll have to wait and see as I actually use the service.

You can still pull up the old GC web site to listen to old voicemail.

You can make and receive calls on it and use the Gizmo sip client as a gui on your PC. You can make calls on it using your BB by dialing your GC number then dialing the number you want to call. Nice if you don't want to distribute your cell phone number. As bad as that sounds (I don't remember anyone's number anymore), I'm guessing you can use one of the calling card third party apps to deal with the dialing. Nice if you have this as a myfav or circle number, basically all the unlimited calling you want (provided the service sound quality is good).

If they added fax and the ability to call your number and dial from your online phonebook, I'd say they'd have the perfect service.

Regards-Michael G.

Still waiting to be upgraded..

Looks like the SMS forwarding may just be an issue with AT&T.

My account is not ready to upgrade yet either. I will wait patiently I suppose.

I would also love a fax feature built in.

Also - thanks to dualsub2006 for bringing this to my attention. I had no idea about the changeover.

I'm still a bit hesitant in upgrading to Google Voice. Not sure why though, I just am.

I'm excited by it. Maybe i won't have to paid Simulscribe 20 bucks a month

While I wait for my grandcentral account to be available for Google Voice .. does anyone know if you can edit or add to the transcribed text? It would be cool to be able to add notes next to a voicemail.

I'm still figuring this out but I'm with you on this. I guess it is just one more consolidation of OUR data into one account - easier to keep track of everything we do/call/visit/search etc being combined in one nice tidy account eventually. BIG GOOGLE, ahem, Brother.

Anyone know time frame on when current users will be converted

You cannot edit the transcript. You can add a note. It can be a lengthy note. It shows with a little note icon just below the transcript. Notes can be added to messages with or without a transcript, and you can even add a note to an SMS conversation.

Notes can be edited.

EDIT: Oh yeah, notes can also be deleted.

Sorry, I don't. Their Twitter feed at one point said that upgrades had gone out to all GC users. Then yesterday it said that they were sorry and that it would all finish in the next few days.

I keep telling myself that I must embrace change. I'm trying to fight the temptation of Google Voice but I am fighting a loosing battle. I've already imported my contacts from GC to my gmail account. ;-)

How user friendly is the mobile site. www.google.com/voice/m