I got really excited when, while browsing the Internet, I stumbled upon the news of the launch in United States of one of my favorite information search engines, Just Dial. The search engine allows users to search business listings across the country, at no cost to the user. It brought back memories for me of the time when, back home in India, friends and I browsed the Just Dial website, or picked up the handset and called the service for every little thing in the world. The company has recently launched the feature in the United States as a phone service, but the service is yet to be available on the web or on cell phones. The company, however, does have plans to launch the website very soon. Once the website is up and running, it would provide any information on any business, product, or service. Whether one is looking for a dentist in the neighborhood, or a restaurant in the vicinity, or movies playing in the theatres nearby, or events happening around the city, within seconds the website will pull out the most accurate and relevant results.
“Of course, if you need to find a thesis written, or research on a chemical, you would have to look elsewhere,” says Subu, a spokesperson for the company.
Justdial.com, when launched, would be user-friendly and simple to use. It will have a simple interface with dropdowns for State, City, area intersections and Zip Codes.
“An intelligent auto-suggest will prompt the user with what he is looking for, which on selection would give the exact relevant results and directions,” says Subu.
Unlike in India, the United States already has multiple ways to find business listings, so just how Justdial.com will fare in comparison to and how different or unique it will be from other business listing search engines like 411.com or free411.com can be assessed only once the website is launched.
For now users can be content with the phone version, which incidentally is also 100% free; users do not pay for the outgoing call. The company claims that, moreover, callers are assisted by a human operator, who searches for information on movies, events, or restaurants in the caller’s neighborhood or any other product or service anywhere in the United States.
Callers have access to it 24/7. All they have to do is call. The service also apparently provides unlimited free call connect to businesses.