Mobile search provider ChaCha is introducing a new sports update service ahead of the busy March sports season. ThmbSavrs allows users to send abbreviations by texts to ChaCha to get live scores, news and updates. ChaCha claims its service will send fans the results they’re looking for, even if the abbreviations are spelled wrong! So, perfect for the pub.
The example that ChaCha gives is of a fan who wants to know “What is the score of the Gonzaga game?” If that fan sends “Score Zags” to 242242, they will get the correct information back. To save on confusion, it even has an list of shortcuts you can send at http://answers.chacha.com/thmbsavrs
From the release:
“Basketball fans can call 1-800-224-2242 or text 242242 and ask any question as if they were calling or texting a smart friend. Now with ThmbSavrs, we provide live score feeds for fans that want instantaneous, real-time updates,” said Scott A. Jones, CEO of ChaCha. “We experience a huge surge in questions during March Madness and football season, and our new sports search capability is, literally, a game changing capability for on-the-go fans that use their mobile phones to track their teams’ scores. Even when our customers are in a rush and they type or spell their favorite team’s name wrong, ChaCha can handle it.”
What we think?
ChaCha is continuing it’s entry into the mobile sports info market, after a succesful superbowl campaign. With sites like ESPN going mobile in a big way, it seems that sports fans are pretty good drivers for mobile search and mobile web. I can see why – if I’m perched on a barstool watching a game and I need up-to-date info, SMS or mobile web is the easiest way to get it. Which is where the “mis-spelling” function of this services comes in really handy. ChaCha claims that if you send “Score Zasg” instead of “Score Zags”, they’ll get the right info to you anyway. Which is exactly what I want to hear when I’m three beers in.
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