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Call a Blogger with GrandCentral


Have you ever wanted to actually speak to a blogger who’s blog you admire? You may be in luck, because Google’s blogging platform Blogger is being integrated with their VOIP phone service, GrandCentral.

Google bought the company last July and it’s been in private beta since. However, if you want to try the service now, you can get an account without an invitation. All you need is a Blogger account.

The idea behind GrandCentral is that you get one phone number for all of your phones. You can manage it yourself online and set rules for your phones (like set it to ring on your desk phone during business hours and then switch to your cell phone afterwards). Other features include letting you check voicemail online, block numbers, and record calls (this is what I need to use my account for).

There’s much more to the service, but the news today is that if you have a Blogger account, you can add a GrandCentral button to your sidebar. Then people can call you without knowing your phone number. You can screen the calls. My guess is that most bloggers would rather write than talk on the phone. I’m more likely to answer the phone if I’m billing someone for consulting (see Ether).

Currently you can add a button to any web page – like your eBay or Amazon listing, but I haven’t seen anyone use the service in this way yet. Now if I can just remember my login information, I should give GrandCentral another look.


  • http://onecleardot.com Angie

    I love the new technology, but honestly I sometimes just sit back, sigh, and yearn for the days of giant, plastic, rotary dial phones with short curly cords.

  • http://www.thevanblog.com Steven Bradley

    I’m not sure I’d want people calling me all the time. Email is enough for the initial contact or better yet comment on my blog.

    The anonymity makes sense and I’m sure this will be a good solution for some, but not sure it would be for me.

  • Relainer

    Smart move on googles part. They’ll be even more powerful although having all those calls would get annoying

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  • http://www.greatpriceshere.com Nicole

    Sounds like a good service. It might just catch on with the blogging community.

  • http://velotips.com mspoke

    I wish GrandCentral would be launched in the UK, it looks like a fantastic service.

  • http://www.herbalexcel.com Steve Rosenbaum

    I think this service definitely has potential for bloggers. I’m very interested to see how this materializes.

  • http://www.craigs-blog.com Craig

    Anyone on this thread planning on giving the blogger with GrandCentral a shot?

  • http://chasinggoogle.blogspot.com/ Mobile guy

    Welcome, sleepless nights :)

  • http://verastic.blogspot.com Vera

    I plan on giving them a try. I’m very excited about the new feature. Sadly, I found out too late, so now, I have to wait to be invited before I join the Grand Central community. But I’m eager to join. I’d love 2 speak to my readers.

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  • http://www.confronta-adsl.com Confronta ADSL

    Sounds like an interesting service… thanks for the note :)

    Confronta ADSL’s last blog post..Alice Test Velocità ADSL con Offerta Alice Business 5 Fast

  • http://umbultech.com umbultech

    well i never here that before…thanks for the sharing of the latest blogger platform technology

    umbultech’s last blog post..Mobile Router D-Link (DIR-450 or DIR-451)