a method of recommending goods or services to a user is described . the recommendations are made based on various data sources containing information of the user and the possible recommendations . a first recommendation is made to a user within a restricted time limit via a portable computing device such as a mobile telephone or a pda , the time limit restricting the available sources of information which may be consulted to produce the recommendation . the user is then offered a second recommendation of improved accuracy ; to achieve this the time limit is increased , so allowing additional data sources to be consulted . the second recommendation may be offered via a fixed computing device such as a self service terminal , allowing greater bandwidth access to the data sources , and allowing additional services or information to be provided to the user , such as detailed information or images on the recommendations .