GrandCentral

This might be of some use to Distance educators. GrandCentral is a telephone linking service. It works like this: You sign up with GrandCentral and they give you a phone number. Then you choose which phone or phones (home, work, cell) will ring whenever someone calls that GrandCentral number. Interesting, no?

So, for example, you give your students your GrandCentral number and set it so it rings both in your office and on your cell. If you happen to be in your office, you can pick it up there. If you are out and about, you can answer it on your cell. It doesn't matter which phone you pick up. And one number does it all.

But wait, there's more! The service also allows you to ListenIn on someone leaving a message if you need to screen calls a bit. And if you press 4 anytime during the call, the call is recorded (there is fine print in the agreement warning users that some states have laws that require you to inform a caller s/he is being recorded).

Currently the service is FREE! There will likely be levels of subscription in the near future.