NeoMedia Technologies, Inc (NEOM)

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DD We've Got Another Hot One, America! Cingular's Text Messaging Results Set New Record on the Fifth Season of Fox's 'American Idol'

http://cingular.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=1562


Cingular Records more than 64.5 million "American Idol"-related Text Messages


ATLANTA, May 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless announced today it has shattered its own record for wireless text messaging during the fifth season of "American Idol." Cingular recorded more than 64.5 million text messages throughout the show's season, breaking last year's record of 41.5 million text messages. Text messages include votes, trivia, sweepstakes entries, TXT chats, fan club and vote number reminder.

Another Great Season of Idol-themed Content

Cingular introduced a lot of great "American Idol"-themed content this season, but its newest offering, Live Idol Tones, stole the show. Cingular broke new ground in the music industry with the tones letting Cingular customers purchase and download ringtones and answer tones of select "American Idol" performances* just 24 hours after they were performed live on the show. Typically, traditional recorded music requires months to go from recording to distribution. Last week, Cingular's Live Idol Tones category of ringtones was one of the top sellers, and the company expects the same stellar performance again this week.

"We are pleased to have played a role in what was another great season of 'American Idol'," said John Burbank, vice president of marketing, Cingular Wireless. "We knocked Idol-related text messaging out of the ballpark and added another home run with our Live Idol Tones which capitalized on the passion 'American Idol' fans have for their favorite contestants."

Cingular customers also had exclusive wireless access to "American Idol" throughout the season with 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 also connected to the show through the Idol Wireless Fan Club which let them 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 former Idol winners and contestants. And on May 23, Cingular awarded Joanne Petrella from Tampa, Florida a $100,000 prize when she won the Cingular "American Idol" $100,000 Trivia Challenge in Los Angeles before the show's finale. Hosted by former Idol contestant Tamyra Gray, Petrella competed against 16 other contestants and answered the most correct questions about "American Idol" history, former Idol contestants and memorable moments from the show. Trivia contestants were selected through text entries and Cingular radio promotions held in different cities throughout the country.

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