After nearly a year of hearing nothing from Grand Central, Google has announced that the latest generation of this service will be known as Google Voice.

Grand Central is a phone service that touted 'one phone number for life'. However, Grand Central provided more than just a phone number it gave users the ability to control who called them and where that call was routed to be answered.

I first came across Grand Central when I was in the process of changing mobile phone numbers. After providing all my contacts with my new Grand Central number I quickly learned of its limitations. The biggest problem I came across was the inability to receive text messages to my Grand Central number. While only a select few of my contacts actually text me I quickly realized this would not be a number I gave to most of my regular contacts.

I regularly followed the Grand Central blog as well as the the Grand Central help forum but after seeing little feedback from anyone at Grand Central I decided this would not become my one number for life. Instead I now use this number where I want to make sure I can screen the calls I receive.

I logged into my Grand Central account tonight and other than a message on the home page indicating the switch to Google Voice is coming nothing has changed. Google Voice appears to be a step in the right direction for this phone service. However, I am cautiously optimistic as the service is only as good as the support behind it.

Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP is a means of transmitting phone calls over the Internet. The biggest advantage to routing calls over the Internet is cost. Many U.S. VoIP providers do not charge long distance for calls inside the United States. Another advantage for VoIP is the additional features that come with the service at little or no cost. These features allow the person paying the phone bill to take control of the phone line and who calls them.

I've been using Packet8 for my home phone for the last 4 years. While, I am not one that talks on the phone a lot I can say that I have never noticed any loss of call quality. The only issue that I had with Packet8 was getting the phone adapter shipped in a timely manner. Since I started using Packet8 I have referred friends and family to the service and shipping of the adapter has not been an issue.

Today I can't imagine having home phone service without many of the features that Packet8 provides at a reasonable rate. Most important for me is selective and anonymous call blocking. I had the unfortunate situation of being an issued a phone number that was previous used by someone that owed several people money (this number was issued to me by a landline provider and not by Packet8). I have told numerous debt collectors that the number they dialed is no longer valid for the person they are trying to contact but it usually does little to stop repeated calls. Packet8 allows me to send certain number as well as anonymous calls strait to voicemail.

Voip allows a person to control their phone as opposed to their phone controling them. Now only if cell phone companies will provide these same features......