Google snaps up GrandCentral for Web voicemail service

Internet search engine Google announced Monday that it has acquired GrandCentral Communications Inc., a Fremont, California-based start-up firm that provides services for managing their users’ voice communications.

With its latest move, the Internet powerhouse is apparently giving a boost to its aim to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful by adding GrandCentral’s communication services.

On its official blog posted by Google’s Product Manager, Wesley Chan, the search giant confirmed about its latest acquisition of GrandCentral, however, it did not specify the financial terms of the deal.

“We think GrandCentral’s technology fits well into Google’s efforts to provide services that enhance the collaborative exchange of information between our users,” Chan said in the blog.

Founded by Craig Walker and Vincent Paquet in late 2005, GrandCentral provides an innovative web-based voice communications platform that helps users manage all their phones and phone numbers through one simple interface. It allows users to manage their existing phones and voicemail services over the Web.

“Being part of Google will helps us make our vision of improved voice communications one step closer to reality and bring innovative communications services to millions of users around the world,” GrandCentral said on its Q&A Web page.

GrandCentral and all its services will remain operational even after the acquisition, the company said in the Q&A session.

GrandCentral usually provides new and innovative features such as a free service that assigns users single phone number that rings various phones at once, records calls and accesses visual voicemail.

"You get a single phone number that forwards to all of your phones, giving you one number for life," Walker and Paquet said in a statement on company’s Website.

The two GrandCentral founders also worked together while running Web-calling pioneer Dialpad Communications, which was later acquired by Google's arch rival, Yahoo Inc. in June 2005. Walker and Paquet acted as the chief executive and vice president of business development and marketing, respectively, for VoIP company Dialpad.

Google currently offers an instant message chat service through its free Webmail service, Gmail, but it lacks voicemail component. Gmail service comes with built-in Google search technology and over 2,600 megabytes of storage. GrandCentral’s acquisition could enable search engine don its Gmail service with an online phone service much like Skype.

Mountain View-based Google Inc.’s ease to use, simplicity of design and massive database listings have made it the Numero Uno search engine in the world. The Web search leader is now extending its design magnificence in new directions by making the search services more comprehensive.

Larry Page and Sergey Brin have to be credited for co-finding this giant internet search and advertisement engine, Google, which has helped the masses to be in touch with every sphere of life as it is said, 'Everything is now just a click away and within the reach of everybody.'