Telstra has revealed the addition of almost one million new mobile services in the six months to December 2011, but Sensis revenues plummeted 24 percent in 12 months.
Up to six phones can be associated with one GrandCentral number, with a web interface that controls which phone rings when someone calls. Rules can be set up to vary the redirection according to the caller, and specific callers can be blocked. It is even possible to transfer a call from one phone to another in mid conversation.
Calls can be screened by listening to voicemails as they are being recorded (just like a traditional answering machine). Voicemails can be played on any of the associated phones or via the web, and different greetings can be recorded for groups of callers. GrandCentral also allows conversations can be recorded at any time, simply by pressing the 4 button. The unified visual voicemail is available on the web, with support for web-enabled mobile phones.
"We think GrandCentral's technology fits well into Google's efforts to provide services that enhance the collaborative exchange of information between our users," said Wesley Chan, product manager at Google.
The deal "ensures that not only will we have the resources to continue to bring you even more innovative communications features down the road, but that we will be able to continue to offer you the service, with many features for free, for a long time to come," said GrandCentral co-founder Vincent Paquet.
Existing beta users should receive uninterrupted service during the transition. A limited number of additional users will be invited to join the beta program.
One feature that has been dropped is the ability to upload audio files for use as ring-back tones. Users are now limited to a selection of licensed sound files.
As usual, Google did not disclose the value of the transaction.
David Bass
| For the fourth year in a row, IDC has placed content security provider Websense (NASDAQ: WBSN) at the top of the IDC Worldwide Web Security 2011 –…
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