Filed under: iPhone, App Store
Grandialer, an iPhone app for GrandCentral
If you are one of the lucky ones who got in on the GrandCentral beta, then you might be interested in a new iPhone app that integrates with the GrandCentral service. Grandialer (iTunes link) allows you to use your iPhone to call people using your GrandCentral telephone number. The service can be used on EDGE since it's not a VoIP service. The application works by connecting your calls through GrandCentral and ringing back your iPhone. To set up the application, you just need to specify a ringback number for GrandCentral to call you back. To do this, just navigate to Settings > Phone number in the Grandialer application.
Grandialer is a free application and is available today on the App Store. For more information on the application you can visit the developer's site.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jimmie said 12:13PM on 8-08-2008
This is great, now if I could only get an invite. Been waiting a few months. If they could integrate some of the features of GrandCentral like call recording in a visual interface that would be awesome. I expect Google will have an app like that at some point. Fits in with their whole move with Android, just hope iPhone users don't get left out.
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Scott Gruby said 12:18PM on 8-08-2008
Unfortunately the interface to GrandCentral is quite limited; pretty much all GrandDialer can do is dial. It could "scrape" web pages, but that is quite error prone. Hopefully in the future GrandCentral will open it up more.
Vikram said 3:37PM on 9-28-2008
you want an invite..
let me know!
Scott Gruby said 12:18PM on 8-08-2008
This article isn't completely correct. The link to the developer blog goes to a link to a fan of the product and not my blog (I am the developer). More information can be found at http://www.ggtenterprises.com
There is no blog for this product.
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Christina Warren said 12:27PM on 8-08-2008
Thanks Scott, I updated the link!
xxdesmus said 12:27PM on 8-08-2008
What a great idea. Sounds like a very handy app.
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Kyle said 12:37PM on 8-08-2008
I was hoping it might integrate with the other Grand Central:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Central_%28technology%29
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Brian said 1:07PM on 8-08-2008
This is great! Thanks so much for the application. Up until now, I've just been dialing as a blocked number from my cell phone so they didn't have my personal number.
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neil said 1:15PM on 8-08-2008
Nice app! But is there any reason that I can't use '4' to record like I would with a normal grand central call?
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Eric said 1:17PM on 8-08-2008
Users of n8x0's, 770's, and Linux have DialCentral fka Grancentral Dialer. I'm trying to push out a new release "soon"
http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21394
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adriana said 1:36PM on 8-08-2008
I love this program. I just wish that I could add multiple GC accts. Other than that it's prefect!
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Gabriel said 1:47PM on 8-08-2008
I love it. I've been using GC's moblie service on my iPhone, it's really a pain in the neck to use. With this new app, it's so much easier. Thanks!!!
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ThePete said 2:02PM on 8-08-2008
GrandCentral has been a major disappointment. Virtually no new features have been added since I got my invite (a year, or so, ago?), but my GC number is on my business cards now, so I'm kinda stuck. I use the service, and I'm thankful for the GrandDialer app (two D's not one, I think) but this is a great example of Google ignoring companies/services it buys. Sad, really, since GC is a great idea and, for what it is so far, a good service.
So, if you're sad you didn't get in on the beta, you're missing very little. They really need to integrate with gmail, add an editable favorites phone list (my iPhone does that! too bad it's not integrated with GrandDialer), allow custom groups (not just family, friends, work and others), allow incoming calls from some callers to go straight through (currently you have to press 1 to send them through to you), and, well, I could go on.
Sorry, most of that is OT, but hopefully useful to folks wishing they had a GC account (and maybe Google, if they happen to stop by TUAW).
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Mike G. said 2:27PM on 8-08-2008
GC is free - and for that price it's awesome. I think it's foolish for anyone to rely on a GC # as their only biz number. A simple Google search would have / can tell you why. It's best function is as a forwarding service. Forward your business number there when you're out of the office - and then to home, cell, wherever. GC is an excellent bang for the buck service. Can't beat it.
Eric said 2:43PM on 8-08-2008
Mike G, they pitch it as your only number but they don't provide the support or uptime to match their rhetoric. They have had no substantial development *AT ALL* since google acquired them.
They need to do something soon to regain the trust of many users.
ThePete said 2:44PM on 8-08-2008
You're right about it being worth money, but it hasn't been worth the effort. Just because something is free doesn't mean it's good.
I spend plenty of extra time fussing with it. It refused to accept my iPhone's number. Spent an hour troubleshooting it. There are other issues I've had with it, too--like leaving spam/unknown numbers in with regular contacts or just not putting calls through at all and not giving callers my voicemail, either. So, for free? Yeah--it's a good deal if price is all you care about, but that's setting the bar pretty low.
If I had it to do over, I think I'd have been better off using one of my numbers for business and another for private.
And please don't go using words like "foolish", man--when I saw that The Mighty Google had bought GC I assumed they'd, you know, DO something with it--expand, evolve, etc. I don't think that was a "foolish" assumption to make back when GC first got bought, many, many moons ago. So, ease up there, Mr. Judgypants.
ThePete said 2:45PM on 8-08-2008
Didn't see your comment, Eric--I'm with you. Though, since they're Google, they're just too big to have to care what people think. They know most people are stuck with them. Hell, *I* don't want to stop using Gmail.
DaveK said 6:06PM on 8-08-2008
I use Grand Central in my small business primarily for call forwarding and agree its great for what it does and the free price. I get dozens of voicemails delivered by push to my Blackjack Exchange e-mail and can open the e-mail, click on the link and it quickly opens the browser and goes to a unique web address for the specific message, asking if I want to download/play the .mp3 file, which is what I then do. I have read that there are limitations on the iPhone, at least last year there were, is that STILL the case, or can the iPhone now playback the Mp3 voice message files via the link. I know that .mp3 and .wav file e-mail attachments can be played back on the iPhone like Vonage now works, so can someone explain how Grand Central and their Mobile web site access works or not on the iPhone 3G on the blackjack you can log in to mobile, and see visual voicemail and click on buttons to also playback, and you can change some of key settings).
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Tony Morrow said 4:37PM on 8-08-2008
The beauty of the N800/810 with Grandcentral Dialer is that you can place and received free calls to and from anywhere when its partnered with Gizmo 5. Now if we can get a version of Gizmo on the iPhone.
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threepio said 10:03PM on 8-10-2008
The app is named "GrandDialer" (two D's), not "Grandialer".
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