[by Cerius Shah] After Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO), Ask and Rediff (NSDQ: REDF) its NDTV Convergence getting into the business of free advice with NDTV Answers. According to this E4M story there are a panel of experts who address queries based on their area of specialization and an existing network that generates an average of over six quality-filtered responses per query, with nearly 300,000 registered advisors and over 830,000 articles of quality-filtered advice. The service itself is powered by Ammas.com and everything from the traffic to the back-end is supported by or through Ammas. In fact, you wouldn’t even know the difference between the answers section on Amma’s vs NDTV if it weren’t for the banner telling you so.

The system works on a leaderboard mechanism where answers are ranked for relevance and answers as well as good questions are rewarded with AA$ (Ask Agent Dollars). AA$ earned can be used for shopping or exchanged for USD through the Ask-Ex trade system. AA$ is supported by Sifymall.com, a user can cash in his reward for goods from the material realm as well.

Few things. First, asking a question shouldn’t involve a penalty. Putting in a priority system that penalizes the user on his first experience gives out the wrong signal. Secondly, the system defeats the purpose of a prompt reply. If you have a query which is top priority for you to be answered, but you don’t have the cash to get that attention, you have to buy AA$ using real Benjamin’s or go around giving advice yourself. The system rewards people for giving answers not for asking questions. Unless someone is really hungry for that reversible winter jacket, I don’t see too many people asking questions at NDTV Answers.

Nikhil adds: I wonder how long NDTVs deal with Ammas is for: remember the Yello Media’s tie-up for NDTVjobs.com? Since that partnership dissolved, NDTVjobs hasn’t resurfaced (the url redirects to NDTV.com) and Yellojobs has gone solo.

• Yellojobs Goes Solo, Breaks Ties With NDTVjobs Within A Year