Technique for effectively providing a personalized information assistance service

A system for providing information targeted to a user, comprising:

• storage for storing preference data associated with the user;
• a server for selecting information having content in accordance with the preference data;
• an interface for receiving an information assistance call from the user, the call including a request for connection information;
• a database from which the requested connection information is obtained;
• a mechanism for connecting the call to a destination device based on the requested connection information;
• a processor for monitoring for a status of the call;
• a device for providing the selected information to the user during the call after the status is determined;
• and
• a second server for providing the selected information to the user via a communication method different from the call, the communication method being specified in the preference data.

A method for providing information targeted to a user, comprising:

• maintaining preference data associated with a user;
• receiving an information assistance call from the user;
• selecting promotional information having content in accordance with the preference data;
• providing the selected promotional information to the user during the call;
• and
• providing the selected promotional information to the user via a communication method different from the call, the communication method being specified in the preference data.

A method for providing information targeted to a user, comprising:

• maintaining preference data associated with the user;
• providing to the user an option to opt out of receiving promotional information;
• receiving an information assistance call from the user;
• and
• if the user has not selected the option to opt out of receiving promotional information;
• selecting promotional information having content in accordance with the preference data;
• providing the selected promotional information to the user during the call;
• and
• providing the selected promotional information to the user via a communication method different from the call, the communication method being specified in the preference data.