Alltel Wireless has added ChaCha's mobile answers service to its network to increasethe wireless carrier's SMS traffic.

With ChaCha on board, Alltel customers can now have any question answered for free via mobile phone. When consumers call 1-800-2ChaCha or text questions to ChaCha (242242), they receive a text message with the answer in conversational English, along with a Web reference link.

"ChaCha provides a needed service to our customers and increases SMS traffic and average revenue per user for the carrier by driving users to text messaging and migrating existing pay-per-use customers to unlimited text packages to reduce overall churn," said Brad Burgess, staff manager of product marketing, Alltel Wireless, Little Rock, AR.

The ChaCha messaging service is powered by actual trained human beings, instead of an algorithmic response thrown out.

This gives consumers more freedom to ask a broader range of questions using colloquialisms they are most comfortable with. The service is free and consumers are only charged Alltel's standard messaging fees.

Soon to be acquired by telecoms giant Verizon Communications, Alltel is known for its "My Circle" feature, which offers its estimated 13 million customers unlimited calling to and from any five, 10 or 20 numbers on any network for free.

"This service will increase network usage and migrations to unlimited text plans and the voice service (1.800.2CHACHA) introduces texting to a broader demographic, driving additional revenue from non-text users," Mr. Burgess said.

"It will also drive the monetization of mobile search through expanded 411 services, local content category partnerships and recognition of ChaCha and Alltel as industry innovators," he said.