ATLANTA-This year’s “American Idol” text-message voting will likely surpass last year’s groundbreaking campaign, as Cingular Wireless’ 49 million subscribers can take part in the short message service offering for the first time.
Last year’s marketing effort, which allowed AT&T Wireless Services subscribers to vote for their favorite crooner with their phones, generated 13.5 million text messages-up from 7.5 million messages in 2003, the campaign’s first year. The campaign was hailed as a turning point for U.S. operators looking for a catalyst to generate text-messaging revenues.
With the merger between the carriers, more than twice as many wireless users can participate in this year’s vote. Cingular has also added features to this year’s vote, which begins at the end of tonight’s broadcast.
“With TXT chats, a fan club and other new features, Cingular customers will be more personally connected to their favorite idols than ever before,” said John Burbank, Cingular’s vice president of marketing.
