Grandcentral: To use or not to use...

[monkeyboy]

Just polling to see how many ACTUALLY use Grandcentral substantially, versus squatters versus experimenters...

Me, I confess that so far I've been an experimenter... not really making full use of Grandcentral, mostly because:

1) Most of the people I chat with already have my real phone numbers, no point in also giving them a GC number,

2) Concerned about the future stability of the GC service -- I don't want to be relying on the GC service, giving out GC numbers, etc, only to have the GC service terminated or substantially altered in features, reliability or price...

So in part I'm curious how many are in the same boat, and how many are using the GC service without these concerns...

[kulnet]

For me, it hardly ever worked correctly. So, I gave it up.

[HaywireM520]

I don't even know what it is. I've heard people talk about it on these forums, but have no clue as to what it actually is.

[samku06]

When I need to make a long calls I use GC because I have free incoming so it doesn't use up my minutes!
It really is a good program and helps a lot of people save minutes on their cell phone bill.
I also use grand central on my campus phone I bought a cordless phone to put on my desk that is connected to the line the campus provides us in our room because my campus phone doesn't have long distance on it so I just click the number I want to call from grand central it instantly rings to my campus phone I pick it up and start talking.
I really like all the features grand central has to offer and I believe they do a really good job in making sure GC is always up and running and working.

[chilidogtampa]

I've registered a GC number and maybe played with it, but not really using it.....

yep thats me, I got one and now haven't decided what to do with it... neat idea though..

[jumonjii]

I have it, but there are features like texting and picture mail that I like to use.

Since GC doesn't have forwarding options for these, I mainly use my GC for people I dont know, online forms, applications, and so on.

[tomc585]

1) Most of the people I chat with already have my real phone numbers, no point in also giving them a GC number,

2) Concerned about the future stability of the GC service -- I don't want to be relying on the GC service, giving out GC numbers, etc, only to have the GC service terminated or substantially altered in features, reliability or price...

1. I use my GC# for people I dont want to know my real #. I like that you can block individual numbers. Lots of good features.

2. I am concerned about its future and cant rely on it being here for ever.

[monkeyboy]

Although I had kinda suspected it, its still pretty amazing that only 10% of those registered for GC are actually using it for real, as intended. That can't be good news to GC... that means A LOT of phone numbers are tied up with people that aren't really using service. I'll bet that GC starts cutting loose all those squatters at some point...

[69lt1bird]

I use it for a contact number on my web site. I also put the number in my Pick 3 so that I do not get billed for it. Someone on here of HoFo gave me that idea, works great. It forwards to my cell so can choose to answer the call or kick it to voice mail. If the call is missed, I get a text from GC.

[leicabug]

Any tip on a good use of it??

[shevi]

I use it a lot.

1) I'm not allowed to make long distance phone calls on my work phone, and we have a "no personal cell phones" rule. So I can log onto GC, click on a long distance number, and it rings at my desk, rather than my calling out.

2) It's one of my pick-3. So I use my phone to go to gc.com and then my GC number calls me as well as the person I'm calling--so the call is free.

3) People can get me anywhere. If I'm at home, I can answer my home phone, saving my minutes (and battery). If I'm away, I have my cell. And if it's during the day, it rings at work.

[CrazyGuy]

Would anyone who has GC and isn't using it at all consider giving me their number?

I don't know if GC lets the registration be transferred over or not, but if possible I'd like to play around with it a bit to see how it works. I found out about this a little too late and missed the boat on the beta invites.

Anyway, PM me if interested and then I can find out if its even possible to transfer the registration.

Just realized that this probably wasn't the appropriate place to post this because the thread is a poll. Sorry.

[SporkLover]

I use my cell as my primary number and I do not have a land line. So I use my GC number for whenever I need it to sign up for crap outside of Banking, Friends, and Family.

It's nice for when I do want to give my number to a business but dont want to risk being on a spam list.

[djinks]

That was my thought also. If I have someone I know, they get the direct number, but otherwise they get the GC number.

[dartdusky]

Could someone please send me a GrandCentral invitation? I'd like to try out the service. My email address is zkw6qyg02 _at_ sneakemail _dot_ com. Thanks.

[ink718]

I use GC all the time. Very handy! Especially when you do trades, meet new people, or other situations where you don't want to give them your "real" number, you can give them your GC number. I just hope Google lets the beta testers have their service for free! I would continue to use it perhaps even if Google starts to charge. But depending on the rates, i'll see if I can afford it or not. lol. But GC is a great service and very handy!

[channel125]

My GC number helped me with beign able to talk to my son. He lives in a totally different area code as me. His MOM complained that she doesn't have LD on her phone and can't get a Cellphone, so I got the area code for in his area so I can be called without it being a hassle or cost to the mom or my son, incase she needs to call me about an emergency or something.

[NHRADeuce]

I'd like to try GC but I can't get an invite

I'd love to use this!! This would be great to use a GC number on business cards instead of my cell phone.

Oh yeah - if anyone one wants to toss me an invite I'd appreciate it. nhradeuce2005 at yahoo.com

[ink718]

The "invitation" option has been closed. You must "reserve" a number and GC will get back to you within 24 hours or less than a week.

[monkeyboy]

1) I'm not allowed to make long distance phone calls on my work phone, and we have a "no personal cell phones" rule. So I can log onto GC, click on a long distance number, and it rings at my desk, rather than my calling out.That's a cute idea/usage of GC... (I don't have that problem but I can imagine some that do...). It seems a little baroque in this day and age that a company would care about LD calls since nearly every service has LD for free or very cheap.

And as far as GC... 7 out of (44-6) or 18.4% actually use GC for real. That's still a lot of folks with idle GC number out there...

I'm now curious how many GC users are also MagicJack users, as apparently GC is the secret solution for overcoming many MagicJack deficiencies... (I just ordered my MJ yesterday, so there's a chance I'll be much more of a GC user...)

[thevoice319]

I have used it when job hunting in Chicago which I was able to get a local toll for. I found some employers didn't like calling my number which was LD. It works great for me and I've had no problems. I really like the call screening and online call history with emailed voicemail.

Now that I got a job here in the same town, I don't use it. If my area code and toll was available on GC, I would totally use it all the time. But people have enough to remember on a daily basis without remembering when calling me they must dial 1 + somerandomforignareacodewithoddlookingphonenumber.

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