“Here’s my card, but let me give you my cell phone and home numbers, too, just in case, to make sure you can reach me.”

That’s probably a set of instructions we’re all quite familiar with — at least some mutation of it — when doling out our phone numbers to friends, colleagues, clients, doctors, and many others.  But how many people are actually willing to try three or more numbers to reach someone — it must be quite important to try the office, then the cell, then the home.

Then, on the call recipient has to check three sets of voice mails to make sure he doesn’t miss any important information regarding Monday’s meeting, a daughter’s soccer game, or a flight delay.

Imagine how much time we would all save if we could roll all our various phone numbers into one, including voice mail. That, of course, is the foundation for unified communications, which is among the hottest topics in the communications space. After all, the time that can be saved and aggravation that can be avoided by having to dial but a single number to reach someone is invaluable — the same can be said for knowing you can be reached at a single number, wherever you are.

Those benefits, along with the many added features enabled by IP Communications, are why so many companies are now throwing their hats into the unified communications ring.

GrandCentral Communications is one such phone service company. What separates GrandCentral from some of the other providers is it is enticing customers to try out its services by offering not only a free plan, but a free plan that includes unlimited inbound calling. With GrandCentral, anyone can see what unified communications is all about — for free.

With GrandCentral’s free basic plan, users can roll three different telephony devices into a single number — the $9.99 monthly Premium plan allows up to six devices (it will be available upon completion of beta testing of the basic service). With either plan, customers choose a local GrandCentral phone number that will ring on each of the defined devices (i.e., mobile, work, home), and will also enable access to voicemail via phone, email, or Web, providing unmatched control over call handling features via a simple Web-based interface.

“We’ve always planned to provide a free level of service to our customers and are happy to announce that there will be no artificial limits on the amount of calls received through a free GrandCentral account,” said Craig Walker, CEO of GrandCentral.

Features included in both plans include:

--Roll multiple phone numbers into one

--Check messages by phone, email, or Web

--Keep all messages online

--Record and store your phone calls

--Privacy filters/Call blocking

--Record custom voicemail greetings

--Convert your mp3 files into ring tones

--Forward, download, flag, and add notes to messages

--Switch devices mid-call

--Call screening

--Address book importing

--Click-to-dial from your address book

Beta testing on the service began in September, with more than half-a-million calls having been logged since that time. In addition to ensuring service quality, GrandCentral has also used the beta testing to solicit user feedback and enhance its offering by adding new desirable features.

With GrandCentral’s service, friends and colleagues will avoid unnecessarily wasting time calling multiple numbers, and customers will be relieved of exasperation caused by missing calls and having to give out multiple numbers. Unified Communications is, indeed, the latest communications craze, but it is often touted as a benefit for enterprise customers — and it is that — but, at the end of the day, (or the beginning or during lunch), GrandCentral ensures that small businesses and consumers also can enjoy the benefits of the latest IP Communications technology.

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Erik Linask is Associate Editor of INTERNET TELEPHONY. Most recently, he was Managing Editor at Global Custodian, an international securities services publication. To see more of his articles, please visit Erik Linask’s columnist page.