ChaCha?s new mobile-coupon site has launched new features such as On Demand and Send to Phone functions for mobile consumers.

ChaChaCoupons.com?s new C3 service lets consumers get coupons on the go by texting the keyword C3 and a product, for example, C3 PIZZA to short code 242242, to receive local offers for pizza. The new features will be offered as ChaCha expands its coupon service to other major markets in the United States.

?At ChaCha, we receive millions of questions per day from teens and young adults,? said Susan Marshall, vice president of marketing at ChaCha, Indianapolis. ?About 15 percent of those questions are queries relating to local deals and offers.

?We are responding to our deal-savvy youth who are actively looking for deals and discounts, regularly misplace or lose coupons, want them on demand and are very comfortable texting to get information,? she said.

?We are responding to our advertisers who are looking for new, more effective ways to quickly engage youth and motivate them to purchase, track and quickly measure performance and redemptions and tap into a viral network of teens and young adults who pass along attractive offers to friends and families.?

ChaCha is a free mobile answers service that lets users call 1-800-2-ChaCha or text questions to ChaCha (242242) on wireless devices and receive answers within minutes.

Changing the mobile couponing game
Consumers can also query ChaCha?s C3 with the name of an establishment, for example texting in ?C3 Cabo Sun? will send a consumer all the current offers for Cabo Sun.

ChaCha is also offering a directory assistance service for consumers to text the keyword BIZ along with a business type or category to receive a listing of names, phone numbers and addresses of local businesses.

ChaChaCoupons.com?s Send to Phone mobile feature lets visitors register on the Web site to instantly receive local company offers of their choice on their handsets via SMS.

Additionally, users can sign up for ChaChaCoupons.com?s VIP list.

The company?s VIP lists send text messages containing news, special events and great deals from local companies to opted-in consumers. 

Ms. Marshall said that the service works for anyone and appeals to a wide demographic, but ChaCha?s younger audience are extremely receptive to coupons.

ChaCha got into the coupon sector in early October (see story) and Ms. Marshall said these new services are changing the mobile coupon ecosystem.

?In some ways, we are turning it on its head,? Ms. Marshall said. ?Most of the existing solutions are complex and difficult to set-up and manage.

?We are simplifying the process for both advertisers and consumers by delivering an on-demand couponing service that?s intuitive and content-rich,? she said. ?Everyone wants a good deal, but surprisingly few have been willing work for it ? until recently.

?Mobile couponing makes it really easy for consumers to save money which is appealing in both good and bad economic times. No clipping, no organizing, no lost coupons. And if they do it ?in the moment,? when they are thinking of what they want ? even better.?