Technology Network

      Google is shutting down its GrandCentral web site on December 31. GrandCentral was the telephony service acquired by Google in 2007. It was being used to offer services to over a million Google Voice users. The GrandCentral users were the first ones to be upgraded to Google Voice and the website will be pulled down now.

      GrandCentral service allowed users to manage their voicemails and SMS. The transition from GrandCentral to Google Voice took place in March this year. As of now, all GrandCentral users are being sent an email to back up their messages and voice mails before the website shuts down.

Here's copy of GrandCentral website shut down email retained by Neowin.net:

From: voice-noreply@grandcentral.com
Date: November 20, 2009 11:55:25 PM PST
To:
Subject: The GrandCentral website is shutting down - GrandCentral is now Google Voice.

Dear GrandCentral User:

We're writing to let you know that we will be closing down the GrandCentral website as of December 31, 2009.

All GrandCentral accounts were upgraded to Google Voice earlier this year, but since that time, you've still been able to log-in to your GrandCentral account and listen to old messages there. You will no longer be able to log-in to your GrandCentral account after December 31. Because of this, we strongly suggest downloading any messages or contacts that you want to keep in the next 43 days.

We will send you another reminder before closing down the site, but we suggest you take action now to download any information you want to keep.

- The Google Voice Team.

      Just like GrandCentral, Google Voice too is limited to U.S. based individuals only. We wonder if Google is planning to open up Google Voice to rest of the world. However, that would take a while.