Comments on: GrandCentral’s “One Number For Life” Not Really http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/ Startup and Technology News Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:44:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Josh Fialkoff http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-2492407 Josh Fialkoff Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:02:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-2492407 It seems to me that GrandCentral is not innovating much anymore. Check out this blog post I wrote and let me know what you think... http://www.nooozeguy.com/google-grand-central/ -Josh It seems to me that GrandCentral is not innovating much anymore.

Check out this blog post I wrote and let me know what you think…
http://www.nooozeguy.com/google-grand-central/

-Josh

]]> By: make your site legal http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-2340501 make your site legal Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:15:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-2340501 <strong>make your site legal...</strong> Find out ifyour site is internet law compliant...the penalties for breaking these laws can be quite severe!... make your site legal…

Find out ifyour site is internet law compliant…the penalties for breaking these laws can be quite severe!…

]]> By: GrandCentral Offline: If You Wanna Be A Phone Company, You Can’t Go Dead http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-2167934 GrandCentral Offline: If You Wanna Be A Phone Company, You Can’t Go Dead Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:58:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-2167934 [...] noted problems with the service in the past, but never a general outage. The site is down. The service is down. [...] [...] noted problems with the service in the past, but never a general outage. The site is down. The service is down. [...]

]]> By: http://phonenumbersworld.com/ http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-2048332 http://phonenumbersworld.com/ Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:31:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-2048332 <strong>http://phonenumbersworld.com/...</strong> Keep on the lookout for up to date opinions on this subject.... http://phonenumbersworld.com/...

Keep on the lookout for up to date opinions on this subject….

]]> By: John http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1580863 John Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:33:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1580863 Here is a one number you'll ever need! Call Jott! Sign up! It's free! 1-877-568-8486 Here is a one number you’ll ever need! Call Jott! Sign up! It’s free! 1-877-568-8486

]]> By: Don Zheng http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1566827 Don Zheng Tue, 21 Aug 2007 21:31:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1566827 You can also get a temporary number too: http://www.numbr.com/ You can also get a temporary number too:

http://www.numbr.com/

]]> By: Frank http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1566691 Frank Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:12:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1566691 Check out "Phone Number Bank." http://www.phonenumberbank.com They let you port them a number to them that they will house (or "bank" if you will), allowing you to REALLY hold on to you number for as long as you want. They ported my number quickly and the service works great. Check out “Phone Number Bank.”

http://www.phonenumberbank.com

They let you port them a number to them that they will house (or “bank” if you will), allowing you to REALLY hold on to you number for as long as you want. They ported my number quickly and the service works great.

]]> By: Abby http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1566677 Abby Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:59:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1566677 The closest service out there that's offering a phoen numebr for life (AND enables you to keep a phone number you Already have) is Phone Number Bank: http://www.phonenumberbank.com The service is provided by a regulated CLEC and is free to the first 1,000 customers - it just launched last month... The closest service out there that’s offering a phoen numebr for life (AND enables you to keep a phone number you Already have) is Phone Number Bank: http://www.phonenumberbank.com
The service is provided by a regulated CLEC and is free to the first 1,000 customers - it just launched last month…

]]> By: frankly http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1566013 frankly Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:51:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1566013 I dont have a business to shill for, so maybe my comment doesnt count. Heh, del, Ken, cristy and nicolas (#s 55, 58, 64, and 66), Im lookin at you! People are trying to use this time to promote this negtive for G (for their own biz objectives), but i trust your little startups about 10% as much as GOOGle. Remember? They are traded on NASDAQ? You are clueless if you think I, as a GC user, give a flying f$%k that 434 people had an issue with a beta. Printed cards? Are you serious? I dont have a business to shill for, so maybe my comment doesnt count. Heh, del, Ken, cristy and nicolas (#s 55, 58, 64, and 66), Im lookin at you!

People are trying to use this time to promote this negtive for G (for their own biz objectives), but i trust your little startups about 10% as much as GOOGle. Remember? They are traded on NASDAQ? You are clueless if you think I, as a GC user, give a flying f$%k that 434 people had an issue with a beta. Printed cards? Are you serious?

]]> By: David Mackey http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565994 David Mackey Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:38:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565994 So, its not as bad as it originally seemed, though I imagine GC will be asking themselves how they can avoid this from re-occurring in the future. So, its not as bad as it originally seemed, though I imagine GC will be asking themselves how they can avoid this from re-occurring in the future.

]]> By: nicolas http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565847 nicolas Tue, 21 Aug 2007 01:08:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565847 I tried both Callwave and Youmail and ended up keeping Youmail. It was easy and hassle-free. Once Google bought out GC it was off my radar. I think they're sketchy as to their intentions and way too encompassing for my taste. I don't want to live in a Google world! Btw: my mom loves getting her personal calls and i end up not even picking up the phone anymore because all she wasnts to do is hera my personal calls to her. Meanwhile i have this: http://login.youmail.com/login/greetingView.do?id=1111 a my "stop calling me" voicemail I tried both Callwave and Youmail and ended up keeping Youmail. It was easy and hassle-free.
Once Google bought out GC it was off my radar. I think they’re sketchy as to their intentions and way too encompassing for my taste. I don’t want to live in a Google world!
Btw: my mom loves getting her personal calls and i end up not even picking up the phone anymore because all she wasnts to do is hera my personal calls to her.
Meanwhile i have this: http://login.youmail.com/login.....do?id=1111
a my “stop calling me” voicemail

]]> By: rick http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565788 rick Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:12:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565788 yYeah, for "life" is more like : Until you only have a cell phone. I think some of the other stuff makes it more interesting. What i don't get is that you give out a new number for people but you're still calling from your cell, right? yYeah, for “life” is more like : Until you only have a cell phone.
I think some of the other stuff makes it more interesting.
What i don’t get is that you give out a new number for people but you’re still calling from your cell, right?

]]> By: cristy henderbender http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565781 cristy henderbender Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:06:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565781 Patrick, Why don't you try YouMail at http://www.youmail.com Their feature sets include checking voice mail online, indicvidual greetings for anyone that calls, forwarding voicemails via email or pubslishing the vociemail as a link. They've been reliable and they're free. they're still in beta but fully functional. btw: they have great killer pre-recorded greetings for their ditch-a-caller feature. fun stuff Patrick,
Why don’t you try YouMail at http://www.youmail.com
Their feature sets include checking voice mail online, indicvidual greetings for anyone that calls, forwarding voicemails via email or pubslishing the vociemail as a link.
They’ve been reliable and they’re free. they’re still in beta but fully functional.
btw: they have great killer pre-recorded greetings for their ditch-a-caller feature. fun stuff

]]> By: Jon http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565768 Jon Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:54:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565768 Although "for life" sounds great in marketing circles, implementation is a tough cookie to crack because of all the external extenuating circumstances that a company must rely on for which it has no control in order to maintain the "for life" service. Should be switched to "as long as we can" ;-) Who knows if people will even use a phone number in the future, I sure as hell don't have one anymore... and I am not alone. Jon Although “for life” sounds great in marketing circles, implementation is a tough cookie to crack because of all the external extenuating circumstances that a company must rely on for which it has no control in order to maintain the “for life” service. Should be switched to “as long as we can” ;-)

Who knows if people will even use a phone number in the future, I sure as hell don’t have one anymore… and I am not alone.

Jon

]]> By: Avner http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565747 Avner Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:31:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565747 I am extremely skeptical of the grandcentral service. I have not really given my number to anyone yet because at the end of the day, I won't be paying for this service if I would have to buy my number at the end of the beta. I asked grandcentral what exactly will be free and what won't. Will the number itself be free forever? This is what they replied with... " Dear Avner, Thank you for contacting us. I apologize but we do not know what will be part of our Basic (Free) vs Premium Plans at this time. Our team is still working on the pricing and feature structure. Once this is set I am sure we will post it on our site. " I'm hoping that they won't make us pay for the number itself.. Any thoughts on that Michael & team? Do you guys know if the number will be free itself through your sources? I am extremely skeptical of the grandcentral service. I have not really given my number to anyone yet because at the end of the day, I won’t be paying for this service if I would have to buy my number at the end of the beta.

I asked grandcentral what exactly will be free and what won’t. Will the number itself be free forever? This is what they replied with…

”

Dear Avner,

Thank you for contacting us.

I apologize but we do not know what will be part of our Basic (Free) vs Premium Plans at this time. Our team is still working on the pricing and feature structure. Once this is set I am sure we will post it on our site.

”

I’m hoping that they won’t make us pay for the number itself.. Any thoughts on that Michael & team? Do you guys know if the number will be free itself through your sources?

]]> By: Paul http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565721 Paul Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:02:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565721 How sorry should we feel for people who take out ads or print business stationery incorporating phone numbers from beta-phase startups? It's a half-step worse than using an email address given to you by an ISP. Even the Pope might approve of the ensuing Darwinian selection. People realize that Bad Stuff happens to betas and startups. Despite this, on GigaOM it was reported that Google has offered to pay to re-print at least one GC customer's business cards. For someone who had paid nothing to use the beta product version of a startup they bought a few weeks ago. That's generous - no one should slight Google for this issue (plenty of other stuff to nail them on anyway). How sorry should we feel for people who take out ads or print business stationery incorporating phone numbers from beta-phase startups? It’s a half-step worse than using an email address given to you by an ISP. Even the Pope might approve of the ensuing Darwinian selection.

People realize that Bad Stuff happens to betas and startups. Despite this, on GigaOM it was reported that Google has offered to pay to re-print at least one GC customer’s business cards. For someone who had paid nothing to use the beta product version of a startup they bought a few weeks ago. That’s generous - no one should slight Google for this issue (plenty of other stuff to nail them on anyway).

]]> By: sujamthe http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565708 sujamthe Mon, 20 Aug 2007 22:36:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565708 Its sad to see such harsh comments based on inaccurate information! I am a Grandcentral user and want to let you know "its truly one number for life" and I plan to continue to use it. I am a Techcrunch fan and wish you'll verify your news before airing it as you reach so many fans like me. This article misses the truth that the numbers being shifted are for one area code customers. They could have faced this inconvenience even i it was Grandcentral not Google. But as Google, the slant of the article seems to be get more air! I have no affiliation with Grandcentral as a company, plan to use them for life. They have been very decent in communicating even for user feedback, so my guess is that they will help transition their small number of users affected well. I sure would be unhappy if my number vanished. This brings the truth of the interdepent way in which web solutions are built in the new Web2.0 Era. I haven't spoken to Grandcentral folks, but guess they lost some numbers through an underlying carrier. Mike/Duncan: you can help the businesses whose numbers are changing by listing their old number and the new number here on techcrunch. Its sad to see such harsh comments based on inaccurate information!

I am a Grandcentral user and want to let you know “its truly one number for life” and I plan to continue to use it.

I am a Techcrunch fan and wish you’ll verify your news before airing it as you reach so many fans like me.

This article misses the truth that the numbers being shifted are for one area code customers. They could have faced this inconvenience even i it was Grandcentral not Google.

But as Google, the slant of the article seems to be get more air!

I have no affiliation with Grandcentral as a company, plan to use them for life. They have been very decent in communicating even for user feedback, so my guess is that they will help transition their small number of users affected well.

I sure would be unhappy if my number vanished. This brings the truth of the interdepent way in which web solutions are built in the new Web2.0 Era.

I haven’t spoken to Grandcentral folks, but guess they lost some numbers through an underlying carrier.

Mike/Duncan: you can help the businesses whose numbers are changing by listing their old number and the new number here on techcrunch.

]]> By: Phil http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565667 Phil Mon, 20 Aug 2007 22:03:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565667 Hmm. Beta or not if your slogan is "One number for life" and you can't provide that then your beta product/service has failed. Perhaps a new slogan is in order. How about "One number for someone else's life?" I mean SOMEONE dies everyday, right? Hedge your bet better with that one. Hmm. Beta or not if your slogan is “One number for life” and you can’t provide that then your beta product/service has failed. Perhaps a new slogan is in order. How about “One number for someone else’s life?” I mean SOMEONE dies everyday, right? Hedge your bet better with that one.

]]> By: Ken http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565664 Ken Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:59:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565664 Giving out a new number to everyone you know is so ridiculous... especially when you have to constantly ask people to continue calling that new number because it's easier for them to just call you back using the caller ID off your cell phone. If you want enhanced voicemail for your cell phone similar to GrandCentral, check out YouMail.com and Callwave.com, both great services. For reference, this is an interview with YouMail's CEO on this morning's MSNBC TechWatch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET8fxQsWYGo Cheers! -Ken http://www.youmail.com Giving out a new number to everyone you know is so ridiculous… especially when you have to constantly ask people to continue calling that new number because it’s easier for them to just call you back using the caller ID off your cell phone.

If you want enhanced voicemail for your cell phone similar to GrandCentral, check out YouMail.com and Callwave.com, both great services. For reference, this is an interview with YouMail’s CEO on this morning’s MSNBC TechWatch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET8fxQsWYGo

Cheers!

-Ken
http://www.youmail.com

]]> By: Dustin http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565662 Dustin Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:53:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565662 All kinds of beta services don't deliver the services they are supposed to have...because they're beta. The problem really isn't about GrandCentral dropping the numbers, but about people coming to rely so much on a service that is clearly beta that it causes their business problems. I mean, you have your GrandCentral number on your business cards?!?! As far as gmail goes, I wouldn't tear Google a new one if they lost all my email because I realize it's beta. Which is why I maintain backups of my emails. Relying exclusively on beta products for mission-critical applications is a mistake akin to relying on your hard drive to never die. All kinds of beta services don’t deliver the services they are supposed to have…because they’re beta.

The problem really isn’t about GrandCentral dropping the numbers, but about people coming to rely so much on a service that is clearly beta that it causes their business problems.

I mean, you have your GrandCentral number on your business cards?!?!

As far as gmail goes, I wouldn’t tear Google a new one if they lost all my email because I realize it’s beta. Which is why I maintain backups of my emails. Relying exclusively on beta products for mission-critical applications is a mistake akin to relying on your hard drive to never die.

]]> By: Anthony Kuhn http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565626 Anthony Kuhn Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:19:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565626 Bad mojo for millions of people who have thrown their fortunes into the VOIP ring. When was the last time you picked up a land-line phone and heard silence? I cross-linked to this article at http://blog.innovators-network.org The Innovators Network is a non-profit dedicated to bringing technology to small businesses, venture capitalists, intellectual property experts, and entrepreneurs. Please visit us to help grow our community! Best wishes for continued success, Anthony Kuhn Innovators Network Bad mojo for millions of people who have thrown their fortunes into the VOIP ring. When was the last time you picked up a land-line phone and heard silence? I cross-linked to this article at http://blog.innovators-network.org The Innovators Network is a non-profit dedicated to bringing technology to small businesses, venture capitalists, intellectual property experts, and entrepreneurs. Please visit us to help grow our community!

Best wishes for continued success,

Anthony Kuhn
Innovators Network

]]> By: GrandCentral’s “One Number For Life” Not Really : Knurów http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565611 GrandCentral’s “One Number For Life” Not Really : Knurów Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:56:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565611 [...] Founder Craig Walker comments below and notes that this affected on 434 users: Everybody, thanks for your comments and I want to [...] [...] Founder Craig Walker comments below and notes that this affected on 434 users: Everybody, thanks for your comments and I want to [...]

]]> By: masque number http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565604 masque number Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:49:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565604 Patrick, We offer the same services as Grand Central, same technology actually, with voicemail, caller-id management, call forward by time of day and call screening, at http://www.masquenumber.com. The Masque Numbers are real phone numbers, we made them disposable for people's convenience, I think it's more useful to have several numbers and to drop them when you want, for eBay, Craigslist. But many of our customers are business customers, too, looking for a "phone for life". Difference? You'll have to pay for your Masque Number tough, this is not a for-advertising-only service, but we do take care of our customers. There's no free lunch. And we are self-funded, we have no investors or Google telling us what to do. Fernando? You're right, we can also transfer your former numbers back to us. Just ask us, we're happy to help! - Del Patrick,
We offer the same services as Grand Central, same technology actually, with voicemail, caller-id management, call forward by time of day and call screening, at http://www.masquenumber.com.

The Masque Numbers are real phone numbers, we made them disposable for people’s convenience, I think it’s more useful to have several numbers and to drop them when you want, for eBay, Craigslist.
But many of our customers are business customers, too, looking for a “phone for life”.

Difference? You’ll have to pay for your Masque Number tough, this is not a for-advertising-only service, but we do take care of our customers. There’s no free lunch. And we are self-funded, we have no investors or Google telling us what to do.

Fernando?
You’re right, we can also transfer your former numbers back to us. Just ask us, we’re happy to help!

- Del

]]> By: EH http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565579 EH Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:19:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565579 Brian @47 nails the controversy. Say what you like about beta and Google evil/good, etc., the simple fact beyond the regulatory limitations on number portability is that GC SAID "one number for life," apparently without being able to back it up. Pretty simple, and it has nothing to do with beta-entitlement issues or any user-denigrating reasons that have been posted above. The company promised, didn't they, or is there maybe some fine print in the TOS that says "Psyche if you're taking this seriously?" I know that wannabe MBAs in the Web3.0beta world like to think that the business model is always right, but that's not the case if you lie to your users. Brian @47 nails the controversy. Say what you like about beta and Google evil/good, etc., the simple fact beyond the regulatory limitations on number portability is that GC SAID “one number for life,” apparently without being able to back it up. Pretty simple, and it has nothing to do with beta-entitlement issues or any user-denigrating reasons that have been posted above.

The company promised, didn’t they, or is there maybe some fine print in the TOS that says “Psyche if you’re taking this seriously?”

I know that wannabe MBAs in the Web3.0beta world like to think that the business model is always right, but that’s not the case if you lie to your users.

]]> By: Ron Palmeri http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565553 Ron Palmeri Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:45:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/20/google-disconnects-grand-central-customers/#comment-1565553 Google should just buy a CLEC and get it over with. Google should just buy a CLEC and get it over with.

]]>