Hiogi has launched on Skype, letting the VoIP provider's users ask for advice or information by typing a question into their mobile chat window.

Each question receives a fast and accurate answer from the online community. The accuracy is ensured by a six-eye-principle, meaning that at least three people confirm that the response is correct.

"The strategy of hiogi is to be a technological market leader in providing free and accurate answers to mobile phone users," said Bjoern Behrendt, CEO of hiogi, Berlin. "Hiogi wants to become a convenient and much more personal source for information than search engines.

"Any technology on mobile phones is supported, e.g. hiogi for Skype mobile, iPhone app, mobile Web, text messaging, Twitter, email from PDAs or widgetsâ?¦with more to come," he said.

Consumers can go to http://www.hiogi.com/skype and register for free.

Once the Skype name has been added, hiogi will send a contact request.

Once hiogi is in the contact list, any question can be send to hiogi directly on Skype by using the keyword ASK in front of the question.

The answer, including a reference link and additional comments, show up in the Skype chat window minutes later.

A list of all functions can be requested by typing in the keyword HELP into the Skype chat window.

For more information, consumers can visit http://www.hiogi.com/skype.

Hiogi claims to be the world's first open web 2.0 knowledge community that provides individual answers.

Questions can be sent via Skype, Twitter, SMS, mobile browser, iPhone, iPod touch or email/PDA.

Hiogi for Skype runs on all handsets that are supported by the Skype mobile Beta version, such as various Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson handsets.

Every answer is researched and written manually by a hiogi member who is willing to
help. Anybody can participate and contribute.

Hiogi is an open community like Wikipedia, with a REST API and online archive.

"Anybody can join for free in order to ask questions or to participate in a fun answer battle," Mr. Behrendt said. "Hiogi works on a trust basis and people help each other without being paid.

"Hiogi already offers more technological solutions to ask questions from mobile phones while people travel than any other competitor," he said.

Hiogi does not have a relevant marketing budget and will work together with media partners to promote the services.

"And hopefully users will like hiogi and spread the word," Mr. Behrendt said.

Hiogi is planning to deliver targeted text ads and mobile ads in the future for any advertiser that wants to market around a focused target group and selected keywords.

"The service will work similar to Google AdWords and will be optimized for the various mobile channels," Mr. Behrendt said. "In addition, the archive of hiogi includes Google AdSense.

"Furthermore, hiogi provides white-labeled modules of its functionalities and B2B intranet solutions," he said.