Google is taking a great service and making it better.
Today, the company is unveiling GoogleVoice, a revamp of the Grand Central Web-based phone service that it acquired back in 2007. Last year, I called Grand Central my favorite telecommuting tool and was thrilled when the company didn’t cut it when it scaled down some services earlier this year. I use my GC number as my “work” number and have it set up to ring my home, office and cell phone numbers. It’s the only number I use on my business card.
Up until today’s announcement, Google really hadn’t done much in terms of enhancing or upgrading GC’s features. But with the upgrade to GoogleVoice, there will be new features that I hadn’t even considered. Among them:
* Automated voicemail transcriptions: Users can choose to receive free fully-automated transcriptions of voicemail messages that become searchable in the Google Voice inbox.
* SMS messaging: Google Voice numbers can now accept SMS messages and forward them to your mobile device and in your Google Voice inbox and reply from either one, as well.
* Conference calling: If you’re on the phone and get another call, you can merge them - linking up to six people on a single call.
* International calling: Place calls from your line and pay for them using Google Checkout
* New forwarding features: Set up custom rules that allow you to determine when and where calls are routed, forcing calls to voicemail late at night, ringing on the cell phone only during off-peak hours and at the office during work hours.
* Gmail Contacts: Google Voice integrates contacts from the Gmail address book.
I’ve been a fan of Grand Central for a long time, largely because I see it as useful tool for the mobile and virtual worker. The Web economy has created an always-on, always-connected, always-available sort of work mentality. The new tools in Google Voice allow the flexibility of being connected no matter when or where without losing the capability to disconnect when it’s time to step away.
Google Voice is a free service. Existing Grand Central customers will migrate over in the next few days and the service - which had been in closed beta - will open up to users in the U.S. over the next couple of weeks. It will be integrated with Google accounts (meaning your Gmail user name and password will work).
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
kelly clarkson pregnant
Don't expect to see Kelly Clarkson with a baby bump any time soon.
"Oh, my God, I have no desire," the American Idol winner, 26, tells USA Today. "I would not be a good mother.
Can you guess the celeb bump?
"I mean, I love being an aunt to my niece and nephew," she continues. "And I used to want to, like, adopt 10 kids -- because I had friends who were adopted, and I thought that was the coolest thing, to be chosen. But...my job is too selfish."
Clarkson (whose next album, All I Ever Wanted, hits stores tomorrow) is currently single -- and happy about it.
"I went to see He's Just Not That Into You the other night, and honestly, you walk away from that movie feeling so glad that you're single," she says.
See photos from He's Just Not That Into You
"I went with friends who are my backup singers on the road, and have their own group, and we were like, where do we even meet people when you're working so much?" she goes on. "I mean, we travel with a bunch of married men! And I love working; I can't see myself not doing this."
Although if she met the right person, she would consider saying "I Do." (A change of heart since a 2007 Elle interview in which she proclaimed she's "not keen on marriage.")
See pictures of stars who say no to marriage.
"I'm not against it. If I found a guy who could handle my job, that would be cool," she says. "But I've dated a couple of guys who were awesome, and the celebrity part of my life and the traveling part are hard to get around.
"You never get to see each other, especially if you're both musicians," adds Clarkson, who once dated singer/songwriter -- and touring partner-- Graham Colton.
Clarkson also tells the newspaper she hasn't let fame change her.
"It would be easy for me to go, 'Whatever, I'll be a fembot.' But I have a big fear of change, or negative change, anyway," she says. "I'm basically the same person I was when I won Idol, or when I was 10.
"Maybe it sounds cheesy, but in a world that is not normal, my goal is to continue doing what I love and feeling good about it. That's it."
"Oh, my God, I have no desire," the American Idol winner, 26, tells USA Today. "I would not be a good mother.
Can you guess the celeb bump?
"I mean, I love being an aunt to my niece and nephew," she continues. "And I used to want to, like, adopt 10 kids -- because I had friends who were adopted, and I thought that was the coolest thing, to be chosen. But...my job is too selfish."
Clarkson (whose next album, All I Ever Wanted, hits stores tomorrow) is currently single -- and happy about it.
"I went to see He's Just Not That Into You the other night, and honestly, you walk away from that movie feeling so glad that you're single," she says.
See photos from He's Just Not That Into You
"I went with friends who are my backup singers on the road, and have their own group, and we were like, where do we even meet people when you're working so much?" she goes on. "I mean, we travel with a bunch of married men! And I love working; I can't see myself not doing this."
Although if she met the right person, she would consider saying "I Do." (A change of heart since a 2007 Elle interview in which she proclaimed she's "not keen on marriage.")
See pictures of stars who say no to marriage.
"I'm not against it. If I found a guy who could handle my job, that would be cool," she says. "But I've dated a couple of guys who were awesome, and the celebrity part of my life and the traveling part are hard to get around.
"You never get to see each other, especially if you're both musicians," adds Clarkson, who once dated singer/songwriter -- and touring partner-- Graham Colton.
Clarkson also tells the newspaper she hasn't let fame change her.
"It would be easy for me to go, 'Whatever, I'll be a fembot.' But I have a big fear of change, or negative change, anyway," she says. "I'm basically the same person I was when I won Idol, or when I was 10.
"Maybe it sounds cheesy, but in a world that is not normal, my goal is to continue doing what I love and feeling good about it. That's it."
Elaine Wynn Divorce!
PHOTOS! Here are pictures of Elaine Wynn who has filed for divorce from Steve Wynn. LALATE broke the first pictures of Andrea Hissom in February. Now Elaine Wynn has officially filed for divorce after four decades of marriage.
for pictures please go here http://news.lalate.com/2009/03/11/elaine-wynn-divorce/
for pictures please go here http://news.lalate.com/2009/03/11/elaine-wynn-divorce/
samantha knapp
Samantha Knapp is a Local 6 news reporter who will go the extra mile to get the story first and more importantly, get it right!
With a variety of experience as a producer, writer and reporter, Samantha relishes her role as a provider of news and information. She works tirelessly in pursuit of stories that make a difference in people’s lives.
Samantha has worked many extra hours filing live reports during morning and evening shows.
Drop Samantha a line at: Sknapp@local6.com
for more information please visit http://www.clickorlando.com/station/4228304/detail.html
With a variety of experience as a producer, writer and reporter, Samantha relishes her role as a provider of news and information. She works tirelessly in pursuit of stories that make a difference in people’s lives.
Samantha has worked many extra hours filing live reports during morning and evening shows.
Drop Samantha a line at: Sknapp@local6.com
for more information please visit http://www.clickorlando.com/station/4228304/detail.html
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