ChaCha Outperforms Mobile Search Engines and Q&A Platforms

Tops Siri, Google, Quora and Ask.com in Butler Business Accelerator Study

SAN FRANCISCO & NEW YORK & CARMEL, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ChaCha, the leading real-time, human-powered question-and-answer (Q&A) site, today announced that it ranked as the top answer provider on mobile devices for accuracy and on the Butler University Q&A Intelligence Index according to Butler Business Accelerator’s “Study on Q&A Platforms” released earlier this week. Further validating ChaCha’s utility to its users, ChaCha.com ranked as the top-ranked mobile web site in comScore’s January 2013 Mobile Metrix Key Measures report, when measured by average minutes per smartphone visitor.

“Through our extensive study, ChaCha showed the highest level of performance. As the market matures, we anticipate that ChaCha and other mobile search companies will lift the standard of natural language processing and semantic understanding to enhance the user experience with mobile Q&A.”

Key Findings

comScore measured ChaCha.com at an average of 133.6 minutes per smartphone visitor in January 2013, placing the Q&A site ahead of all other mobile websites including Facebook.com, Google.com, Craigslist.com and AOL.com. In addition, the Butler study revealed that ChaCha’s mobile application for the Apple iPhone responded to the study’s 180 randomly selected questions with the highest degree of accuracy of all 11 competitors tested, including Siri, Quora, Ask.com, and Google.

ChaCha also scored the highest on the Butler University Q&A Intelligence Index, which measures the likelihood that a user can expect to receive a correct answer to any random question asked using natural language. The questions were asked via mobile services and randomized to cover both popular and less common questions.

The Butler study accuracy score measured how correct answers were in relation to an objective third party’s answer key that accounted for logic and bias. The coverage score measured whether an answer was returned within a three-minute window and assessed the first non-sponsored search result in Q&A platforms.

With sales of mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) expected to grow by 20 percent in 2013, according to IDC, consumers will continue to turn to their mobile devices to seek out answers to their questions. ChaCha’s proprietary approach to Q&A, combined with its unique technology that harnesses the power of human intelligence, gives users a valuable resource for the answers they need while on the go.

“ChaCha has long focused on delivering the right answer at the right time with a uniquely human element, and this is reflected in our best-in-class ranking on the Butler University Q&A Intelligence Index, as well as in a true litmus-test ranking from comScore,” said Scott A. Jones, ChaCha’s CEO. “As we accelerate our growth, we continue to invest in our technology and platform performance, further advancing ChaCha as the best resource for information on the go.”

“There is a vast amount of information available to consumers through their mobile devices today, with much more to come as people become accustomed to sharing their knowledge online regularly,” said Trent Ritzenthaler, Operating Director, Butler Business Accelerator. “Through our extensive study, ChaCha showed the highest level of performance. As the market matures, we anticipate that ChaCha and other mobile search companies will lift the standard of natural language processing and semantic understanding to enhance the user experience with mobile Q&A.”

For further information on the research methodology and analysis of test data, visit http://www.butler.edu/q-a-study/.

About the Butler Business Accelerator

The Butler Business Accelerator (BBA) is an extension of the Butler University College of Business. The BBA’s experienced professionals leverage the University’s resources to help solve business challenges. From strategy to marketing, sales, operations and financial management, the BBA’s network of subject matter experts work alongside clients to build solutions that have immediate and long-term results.

About ChaCha

ChaCha is the leading source for free real-time Q&A. Through its unique "ask-a-smart-friend" platform, ChaCha has answered over 2 billion questions since launch from more than 40 million unique users per month via online (ChaCha.com), iPhone app, Android app, mobile text (242-242), and voice (1-800-2-ChaCha™). ChaCha is one of the fastest-growing mobile and online publishers according to comScore, Nielsen, and Quantcast, was named by Forbes as one of America's Most Promising Companies, and is a Red Herring Global Top 100 Company. Follow ChaCha on Twitter: @ChaCha and @ChaChaMan.