Multimedia News Release - America Has Voted: TXT Messaging Is In

Multimedia News Release - America Has Voted: TXT Messaging Is In

Cingular Wireless and FOX's 'American Idol' Set Record Breaking Numbers in Text Messaging

ATLANTA, May 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless announced today it has set a new record for wireless text messaging in the fourth season of "American Idol." The company recorded more than 41.5 million text messages throughout the show's 12-week voting period, which is believed to represent the largest volume of text messaging in a single campaign in the history of the U.S. wireless industry.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/cingular/22027/

The number of text messages in the fourth season of "American Idol" more than tripled the amount of text messages recorded in the 2004 season. Text messages include votes, trivia, sweepstakes entries, TXT chats, fan club and vote number reminders.

This year, Cingular's 50 million customers had the opportunity to vote each week via text messaging for their favorite 'American Idol' contestants, compared to 21 million customers in 2004 that were a part of AT&T Wireless. Cingular acquired AT&T Wireless in October 2004.

"The fourth season of 'American Idol' has helped to spur a national wireless text messaging boom," said John Burbank, vice president of sponsorships for Cingular Wireless. "Cingular's success with 'American Idol' shows that texting is becoming as common as talking on wireless phones. Our continued success with American Idol validates our view that consumers will embrace advanced wireless services like text messaging if you give them a compelling reason to do so."

Cingular customers had exclusive wireless access to "American Idol" throughout the season with new services including TXT chats with Idol contestants, and convenient vote number reminders listing all of the "American Idol" contestants who performed that week.

In addition, Cingular customers could connect to the show with Idol Wireless Fan Club to keep up with the latest Idol news, play Idol Trivia on their wireless devices or download "American Idol"-related ringtones such as the show's theme song, or songs from past favorites Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard or Fantasia.

Mobliss provided the key technology behind "American Idol" text voting, the Idol Wireless Fan Club, and mobile vote reminder messages. This is Mobliss' third consecutive year of powering text voting for "American Idol." The company was awarded the "Best Wireless Campaign of 2004" at the AD:TECH awards in November 2004 for their interactive "American Idol Season 3" campaign.

About Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 50.4 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(R)Minutes, 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 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.

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/

Video: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/cingular/22027
Source: Cingular Wireless

CONTACT: Jennifer Bowcock of Cingular Wireless, +1-404-236-6319, or
Jennifer.bowcock@cingular.com ; or Lauren Butler of Ketchum, +1-404-879-9283
lauren.butler@ketchum.com , for Cingular Wireless

Web site: http://www.cingular.com/
http://www.cingular.com/newsroom
http://www.fremantlemedia.com/

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