Flipperless Ferreting Is Available as Well

Or, you could simply have an actual human being conduct your Internet search for you.

That’s the idea behind INetNow. The Chatsworth company has trained professional Web surfers to take questions over the phone, conduct a search for you, and relay the answer you’re looking for. “INet surfers” can also look up air fares, buy CDs or check a stock price for customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Users must register on INetNow’s Web site, https://www.inetnow.com, to get an account number and password. Then they call 1-888-INETNOW (1-888-463-8669) and ask their question. Web surfers are able to use four search engines simultaneously to find results fast.

The service became available for free last month. Some of the most frequent callers have been drivers stuck on freeways looking for traffic information and alternate routes, said one INetNow Web surfer. On weekends, the company fields lots of “bar trivia” calls, she said.

After the service is “officially launched” this summer, INetNow plans to charge a monthly subscription fee of $19.95. It also hopes to make money by selling ads on its Web site and taking commissions on e-commerce transactions. Tailored versions of the service also could be made available to Internet portals, wireless carriers and other companies, according to an INetNow spokeswoman.