Yelp! is a novel service that helps you get recommendations from your friends and the community even on such mundane things like where to get a good bite!
Instead of just asking a friend yourself for his recommendation one-to-one, you try to use Yelp! and you get the benefit of the experience of all its members. Sort of network of recommendations that cascade.
But it is U.S-centric.
In Chennai, India, there a free information service run by a private organisation whcih gives you the address and telephone number of any shop or a service provider within Chennai city - be it a physician, eatery or transport. Anything. All you do is dial 1947. Easiest number to remember to any Indian! (For non-Indians: that is the year India got independence from the imperial Britain!)
I am S.K!, ok, what's the big deal!
