Google releases free UC for the masses

Google has moved its web-based unified communications suite GrandCentral into beta and is issuing invitations for U.S. users. Google acquired the one-number-for-life service in 2007 for a mooted $50 million, and its re-launch this week represents a major step into the telephony and voice-services world. The free service backed by Google's market dominance threatens to seriously disrupt the nascent unified messaging market, especially at the small business and SOHO level.

The GrandCentral service offers a single number. Callers can then be routed to whatever phone the GrandCentral user wants, be it a home or mobile or a third-party line such as a hotel. It also has a visual voice mail system which enables voice mail to be checked from the web or from a mobile phone interface. GrandCentral offers a click-to-call service from websites and the ability to dial direct from a contact book. The service also provides recorded calling and the ability to ban certain numbers.

Speculation Google would integrate the application with its Google Talk VoIP service and Gmail service has proved not to be true, although this could still be in the cards as the application moves out of beta. (Many Google products seem to stay permanently in beta). Nor is it integrated with Google's social network application, Orkut. At this point it is hardly an enterprise product, but for many doctors, plumbers, builders, sales reps, etc., GrandCentral will satisfy the need for a tool that unifies the current multiple messaging madness many out-of-office workers struggle with. GrandCentral is also a good testing ground for executives to see what features they really use ahead of any broader investment into a full UC suite.

For those who like to join the dots and wonder where Google's market dominance might be going think Google Talk; Google Android; Google Orkut; and Google Gmail. All free, all powerful, all at the heart of voice 2.0

For more:
GrandCentral sign-up [1] and how it works [2]

Related articles:
Google buys GrandCentral Article [3]
GrandCentral was Top Fierce [4] company in 2006