| One of the big benefits that the Internet offers us is | | | | make the phone call once you are satisfied with the |
| that it gives us access to nearly any information that | | | | information that you have got online. |
| we want right beneath our fingertips. Be it through | | | | Let us say that you need to get a-hold of a particular |
| full Internet access available on desktop and laptop | | | | book by a particular author and you want to see |
| computers or through mobile Internet that is used on | | | | which of the bookstores in your locale carry that |
| cellular phones, if we need to find a specific piece of | | | | particular title. Typing in a query on a search engine |
| information, all we need to do is to open a web | | | | would be too generalized for you to be actually |
| browser, type in the keywords in a search query | | | | helpful. What you would need to do then is to go to |
| box and click on one of the links the search results | | | | a local online directory, click on the category that lists |
| bring up. | | | | bookstores, and then wait for it to bring up a list of |
| Searching for information this way saves us a lot of | | | | bookstores in your area. If the bookstore has a |
| time and effort. Before, we had to rely on other | | | | website, then the website most likely indicates which |
| means to get the information that we need, and | | | | books are available in their stocks. It is highly likely |
| these ways of getting information are either too | | | | that you will be able to buy the book you need online |
| time consuming or require us to go directly to the | | | | and just wait for it to be delivered to your doorstep. |
| source. | | | | If not, then you can get the phone number of the |
| For example, let us say you need to book a flight to | | | | bookstore, call up their customer service and ask for |
| Paris from New York City. If we do not patronize a | | | | a copy to be reserved for you. When you show up |
| travel agent already, we would have to pick a name | | | | at the store, all you need to do is pay for the book. |
| and number from the long list of travel agencies listed | | | | Online directories also work on WAP-enabled mobile |
| on the telephone directory. Once a number is found, | | | | phones, of course. All you need to do is to open |
| we make a phone call. If the phone is busy or | | | | your phone's WAP browser and type in the address |
| disconnected or if the travel agent we got in touch | | | | of the online directory you go to. Or, if you already |
| with could not help us make a good booking on a | | | | subscribe to the WAP services of a specific online |
| flight from New York to Paris, we have to repeat | | | | directory, you probably know the codes you need to |
| the process and call another agency again. It is such | | | | text if you want information about, say, the traffic |
| a waste of time and we may have to devote an | | | | situation on a particular street, the weather in this |
| entire day to simply booking a flight when we could | | | | city, the movie schedule at this cinema, what time |
| have spent that time doing something else. The | | | | the next train for this destination will be leaving, |
| exercise can also be annoying, frustrating and | | | | when this particular flight will leave or arrive at the |
| stressful. | | | | airport, the current local news, the current foreign |
| On the other hand, going to an online directory first | | | | exchange rate, and other such information. |
| before making a round of phone calls is a totally | | | | This is literally information at your fingertips. Just type |
| different story. It would be handy if you already | | | | in the code that you want, send it as a text |
| know the address of an online directory that lists the | | | | message to the online directory you subscribe to, |
| numbers of establishments operating in your locale, | | | | and then receive the reply that you want in a matter |
| but if you do not know yet, typing a few keywords | | | | of seconds. You can do this wherever you may be, |
| in a search browser will lead you to it. | | | | as long as your mobile phone is WAP-enabled and |
| Once you know the Internet address of the local | | | | you can access the service in your location. No more |
| online directory that you need and you have directed | | | | spending half the day flipping through heavy |
| your browser to go to it, you will find that your | | | | phonebooks, reading fine print, making lists of |
| search for whatever information that you want has | | | | numbers and then making rounds of phone calls. |
| been made easier by the fact that addresses listed in | | | | It is really very convenient to be able to get the |
| these online directories have already been neatly | | | | information that you need at a snap of the fingertips. |
| categorized for your convenience. You only need to | | | | That is what technology has allowed us to enjoy. |
| click on the category where you think your search | | | | With online directories and WAP-enabled mobile |
| directs you, you find the information source or | | | | phones, we can have access to whatever |
| service provider that you need and then you go to | | | | information that we need whether we are in front of |
| its website if the website is listed. You only need to | | | | our computers or on the road with just our phones. |