Remember an "angel" callcenter?

November 26, 2005 8:18 AM

Maybe a year or so ago, there was something posted on the blue about a guy starting a company where people could call in with random questions... basically a call center with exceptional google-fu. I believe the operators were called "angels". Can anyone point me to info on this or any similar ventures?
posted by squidlarkin to Work & Money (13 answers total)

It's called AskMe!

Sorry, couldn't resist
posted by NekulturnY at 8:26 AM on November 26, 2005

I think it was called Inetnow, which is closed AFAIK.
posted by cmonkey at 9:11 AM on November 26, 2005

I recall a series of television commercials for a service along those lines a few years back, where two people would have a disagreement over a random fact and call somewhere to check it for a fee.
posted by luftmensch at 9:12 AM on November 26, 2005

And owillis used to work for them.
posted by cmonkey at 9:12 AM on November 26, 2005

Incidentally, places like that still exist, except that they call them libraries, and instead of "angels" they call them "reference librarians", and it's free.
posted by Hildago at 9:25 AM on November 26, 2005

Best answer: Actually, I believe it was AskGod.com, discussed here.
posted by Espy Gillespie at 10:26 AM on November 26, 2005

I don't know if they still do it, but the university of maryland student union information desk would answer most any question as of a few years back. 301-314-3375.
posted by jewzilla at 10:30 AM on November 26, 2005

I thought reference librarians WERE angels...that's what I was been told anyway. And anytime their reference desk phone rings, an angel gets his/her wings.
posted by jeanmari at 10:48 AM on November 26, 2005

Incomplete edit. Argh. "that's what I have been told."
posted by jeanmari at 10:49 AM on November 26, 2005

In the UK we have a service called Any Questions Answered (or AQA) -it's a service whereby you text your question to them and they will send you a text message back with the answer. And it's not just googleable questions either - it's seriously addictive, as you can be sitting in the pub and say 'who's cooler, x or y' and they will text back something insanely fun, like 'x is way cooler at the moment, however y will change their hair next week and will outpace x in the cool stakes'. Or do as my friend did and ask them 'What should I have for dinner' (the answer - 'Carrot and coriander soup and then spaghetti bolognaise' - which was perfect inspiration). So not exactly the one you were referring to, and the perfect way to waste your money when you're sitting in the pub, but along the same lines...
posted by kitschbitch at 1:03 PM on November 26, 2005

I find this thread very ironic
posted by wheelieman at 2:38 PM on November 26, 2005

Man, I'd love to work for a company doing that.
posted by sugarfish at 3:20 PM on November 26, 2005

I used to do exactly that when I worked for the Telephone Ready Reference Unit (now simply called "Ask a Librarian") at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh. It was a wonderful job.
posted by arco at 7:51 AM on November 28, 2005