Abstract: Systems for providing live-agent and hybrid live-agent access to transaction-enabled information systems are disclosed. In various embodiments, a live agent can include a person who using one or more communications devices can hear the utterances of a caller to the transaction-enabled information system and in response may respond verbally to the caller (e.g., by asking the caller for added information that the transaction-enabled information system would otherwise ask for by automated means), and/or may respond by making an input to the transaction-enabled information system (by keyboard, touch screen, verbally, or some other means) based upon the live agent's understanding of the caller's intention. In some embodiments, the transaction-enabled information system may be designed to switch to the live agent mode either automatically, when a specified requirement has been fulfilled and/or when a caller expresses an intention to proceed with the assistance of a live agent.

Abstract: A method for awarding free minutes of cellular service or other consideration to a user of a telephone willing to view or hear advertisements or receive other information includes providing information to the user and awarding the user with free cellular service minutes or other consideration in exchange for the user of the system viewing or listening to the information.