Google inches open GrandCentral

GrandCentral, Google’s Web-based unified communications play, began its slow escape out of private beta today with invites to the free service now available via Google’s blogging service, Blogger.

Google has a history of slowly releasing its apps to the public via limited-supply invites. Its Gmail Web-based email service, for instance, was available via private invite for months before opening fully to the public. While Google is routing new GrandCentral sign-ups via Blogger, it doesn’t appear to be a requirement to sign-up for the service – anyone can sign-up for an account and their own local number.

The Blogger connection seems to the release of a new – or at least newly-promoted click-to-call-style WebCall button that users of the Blogger service can now add to their sites. Visitors can click the button and the widget will help set up a private call via the blog owner’s GrandCentral phone number.

GrandCentral is a Web-based service that provides users with a local phone number that can be used to manage a user’s many other phone numbers. Users can also integrate phone calls and voice mail with e-mail and SMS to further enhance how they manage voice calls.

Telecom service providers have been watching for signs of activity at GrandCentral, which Google has said it is developing but which has been mostly dormant since Google acquired it last summer.

Among the possible paths forward for GrandCentral include tight integration with the search giant’s GoogleTalk instant messaging and voice-over-IP service or its Google Apps suite of office productivity applications.