« Will GrandCentral Ever Come to Canada? »

Funny that I should ask about a phone 2.0 service, all things considered ;-)
That being said, in the past 3 days, every where I turn around, someone, somewhere is writing about how terrifically awesome Grand Central is. What is it, you ask?

It’s a universal phone number. It goes anywhere, does pretty much anything. One number to rule your world. It’s also a recent acquisition by Google (summer 2007), which is pretty darned neat, considering the last time I poked around at it (early-2007), it was just a wee innovation.

You can route your number to various phones, mailboxes and applications. You can route based on originating number, you can assign different ring tones, you can prompt the caller to *explain themselves* before you decide to answer the phone - this would be hilarious with telemarketers. You can have different voice mail greetings depending on the caller (this would be *really* helpful for me, considering I’m using the same VoIP system for work and for pleasure.

Alas, Grand Central’s still only allowing folks to reserve numbers in America.
Grand Central folks - give me a call - I can help set you up in Canada!!!  It’s easy!!! :-)

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Comments

[Jonathon]

How can I, a Canadian (Toronto), get a GrandCentral #, or the equivalent?

[jules]

Hey there Jonathan - until GrandCentral applies for and received a block of Canadian Phone numbers, there's nothing that can be done yet.
My fingers are crossed that it will be soon!

[jc]

Dear Jules,
Until GrandCentral receives a block of Canadian phone numbers, I would like to know if there are online companies that offers phone numbers in the Metro Vancouver (BC, Canada) area: 604 or 778.
Skype has SkypeIn, but they don't offer any 604 or 778 numbers. All I need is a phone number. I don't need a Calling Plan. (Vonage has 604 / 778 numbers, that you have to pay for a calling plan, too.)

Please help.

Thank you very much.

[jc]

I don't see a way to subscribe to this post's comments, so if you can email me when you have left a response on this blog page, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks!.

[jc]

Jules, I realize that even though GrandCentral gives a 778/604 phone number, I would still need a regular phone to make outgoing calls through GrandCentral.
But no problem. This would be my plan if I had a GrandCentral number without a landline/cell:
1) Have all calls routed to Voicemail.
2) Use SkypeOut or GizmoProject to phone out for cheap.

jc

[jules]

Thanks JC!
I've dropped you a note about the alternative options for getting naked phone numbers... and if I come across anyone in canada doing this, I will certainly blog about it!

cheers,
jules