Information Madness

Imagine a phone number that links to your home phone, mobile, work number, your grilfriend's number, your parents number and so on. Just one number to give out to everyone and when someone calls you on that number, all your phones will ring at the same time. Isn't that amazing? GrandCentral is the company who provided this feature to its customers. 

GrandCentral was founded in 2005 by Craig Walker and Vincent Paquet and later bought by Google for $95 million dollars (USD). Right after Google bought GrandCentral the service was not available for new users. But now Google renamed GrandCentral as Google Voice. Google + GrandCentral = Google Voice.

So basically Google Voice is a one number for all your phones, voicemail that is easy as email, and many enhanced calling features like call blocking and screening, voicemail transcripts, call conferencing, international calls, and more.That will be your Google Number.

Currently Google Voice is only available for GrandCentral users but don't worry, within few weeks, anyone can register for the service. You can only get the USA phone number though. Google Voice currently doesn't offer international phone number.  I am pretty sure sooner or later, Google will allow you to attach your international numbers to your account and then you can be reached by the same number anywhere in the world. That would be awesome. Just like iNum - One Number Worldwide For Life

Some of the features that Google Voice will include are

Call screening - Announce and screen callers
Listen in - Listen before taking a call
Block calls - Keep unwanted callers away
SMS - Send, receive, and store SMS
Place calls - Call USA numbers for free
Taking calls - Answer on any of your phones
Phone routing - Phones ring based on who
Conference calling - Join people into a single call
Call record - Record calls and store them online
Call switch - Switch phones during a call
Mobile site - View your inbox from your mobile
GOOG-411 - Check directory assistance
Manage groups - Set preferences by group calls
Forwarding phones - Add phones and decide which ring
Voicemail transcripts - Read what your voicemail says
Listen to voicemail - Check online or from your phone
Notifications - Receive voicemails via email or SMS
Personalize greeting - Vary greetings by caller
Share voicemail - Forward or download voicemails
 

You can keep checking Google Voice page for more information and early invitiation.