Cingular Gives Customers VIP Wireless Access to 'American Idol'

Cingular Gives Customers VIP Wireless Access to 'American Idol'

Cingular Kicks Off Season as Official Telecommunications Sponsor of "American Idol" with Text Voting, Idol Trivia, Exclusive Ringtones, Wireless Fan Club, TXT Chats and Chance To Win Trip to Finale; Voting Begins Tonight

ATLANTA, Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- More than double the wireless subscribers from last year will have the ability to text message their votes for the fourth season of "American Idol(TM)," thanks to Cingular Wireless. Today the company announced it is continuing AT&T Wireless' legacy as the official telecommunications sponsor for television's No. 1 show, and is providing all 49 million Cingular customers with exclusive wireless access to more American Idol features than ever before. Visit http://www.cingular.com/idol for details.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/cingular/21300

Voting begins at the end of this evening's show. Cingular, FOX, FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment invite fans to tune in to "American Idol" from 8-9 pm ET/PT.

This year, Cingular's "American Idol" fans can get closer than ever to their favorite contestants through new, exciting wireless features, including:

-- Vote Number Reminder - Shortly after the voting window opens each week
in each time zone, Cingular will send customers text messages listing
all the Idols and their codes, so you don't have to remember them. To
enroll, just text the word IDOL to short code 3003.
-- Idol Wireless Fan Club -Keep up on the latest news with text updates
on the Idols' activities and "Behind-the-Scenes" pictures from
Coca-Cola sent to your phone. To join, text the word IDOL to 6006.
Picture phone required.
-- Idol TXT Chats - Coming in March, Cingular customers can participate
in "American Idol" chat groups and hosted chats with the "American
Idol" contestants.



In addition, Cingular will offer customers the same inside access to the "American Idol" competition as AT&T Wireless customers enjoyed in years past, including:

-- Text Voting - Text voting is the fast and easy way to vote for your
favorite Idol contestant. Text the word VOTE, then send it to your
Idol's number. Vote for your Idols as often as you would like during
the voting window after each show.
-- TXT-n-Win Sweepstakes - "American Idol" fans could walk away with
$50,000 cash or a trip to the "American Idol" finale in Los Angeles.
Once you register, every text, picture or instant message you send
counts as another entry to win. To register to win the TXT-n-Win
Sweepstakes, just text the word IDOL to 4004; all messages you send to
friends and family will offer another chance to win.
-- Idol Trivia - No true Idol fan should miss out on the best "American
Idol" Trivia. To play, text the word IDOL to short code 5005. Plus,
sweepstakes participants receive 50 bonus entries just for signing up!
-- Ringtones and More - "American Idol" fans can get the hits, from the
original artists, of songs performed by the contestants this year. Or
pick from past favorites like Kelly, Clay, Ruben or Fantasia. Check
out exclusive voice tones from Paula, Randy or Ryan and his famous,
"Seacrest Out!" Customers can even download the "American Idol" theme
song and logo.



"Now that Cingular has acquired AT&T Wireless to become the largest wireless carrier in the nation, we are excited to continue their legacy as a sponsor of "American Idol," said John Burbank, vice president of marketing for Cingular Wireless. "With TXT chats, a fan club and other new features, Cingular customers will be more personally connected to their favorite Idols than ever before. In addition, Cingular has ensured that their 49 million customers' opinions will be counted through the ease and convenience of text messaging."

Leading the Adoption of Text Messaging in the U.S.

In 2003 and 2004, AT&T Wireless created the largest text messaging events by a single carrier worldwide through its sponsorship of "American Idol" on FOX. In 2004, 13.5 million "American Idol"-related text messages were sent by AT&T Wireless customers throughout the season, including fan mail, games, sweepstake entries, trivia, song dedications, and votes. This represents an 80 percent increase over the 2003 showing of 7.5 million text messages. In addition, 46 percent of customers voting via text messages were first time text messaging users.

"As the largest wireless carrier, Cingular's sponsorship of "American Idol" more than doubles the number of customers who can vote via text messaging, up from 21 million customers in 2004," Burbank added. "Let the texting begin!"

Texting Your Vote Is As Easy As 1,2,3!

Texting a vote is easy! Cingular customers can text their vote using these three simple steps:

1) On a Cingular Wireless phone, select Menu and start a new message from
the Text Messaging option.
2) Type in the word VOTE, then select Options, and Send.
3) Enter the four-digit number of the contestant you want to vote for,
then select OK. (Numbers are listed during voting shows.)

Cingular offers two easy ways to text message:


Pay as you go (automatically included with your service - $0.10 a message) Select a text/instant messaging package for as low as $2.99 a month

Most Cingular phones support text messaging. Have an older phone and not sure if it is enabled for text messaging? Visit http://www.cingular.com/media/text_messaging_faqs#faq8 to find out how to enable your phone.

About Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving more than 49 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE:BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation - the ALLOVER(SM) network - and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/. Get Cingular Wireless press releases e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://www.cingular.com/newsroom.

About American Idol

Eight-time Emmy-nominated "American Idol" is created and executive- produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Television; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Chief Operating Officer, Production, FremantleMedia North American, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Television; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.

About FremantleMedia

FremantleMedia Licensing Americas (FMLA) is the US licensing arm of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of program brands in the world, with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 territories. FMLA exploits FremantleMedia's many strong brands including the award winning, American Idol, the world's longest running game show The Price Is Right, the ever-popular Family Feud, and other classic game shows across multiple off- screen platforms including merchandising campaigns, interactive and wireless support, home entertainment and music publishing. http://www.fremantlemedia.com/

About 19 Entertainment

Five-time Emmy Award-nominee American Idol was created by Simon Fuller of 19TV and developed by FremantleMedia. Executive producers are Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe for 19TV and Cecile Frot-Coutaz and Ken Warwick for FremantleMedia North America. 19 also manages such leading musical artists as Annie Lennox, Will Young, Kelly Clarkson, and Fantasia. FremantleMedia North America is one of America's foremost producers of reality-based entertainment programming for television, and has produced the Idols format in 30 countries worldwide.

American Idol(R) 19 TV Ltd. and FremantleMedia North America, Inc. Based on the television program "American Idol" produced by FremantleMedia North America, Inc. and 19 TV Ltd. Licensed by FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide. http://www.fremantlemedia.com/ .

http://www.cingular.com/idol

Video: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/cingular/21300
Source: Cingular Wireless

CONTACT: Jennifer Bowcock, +1-404-236-6319 or
jennifer.bowcock@cingular.com, or Kelleigh Scott, +1-404-236-6321 or
kelleigh.scott@cingular.com, both of Cingular Wireless

Web site: http://www.cingular.com/media/text_messaging_faqs#faq8
http://www.fremantlemedia.com/


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