A Text Arrives. Oh, It's Just an 'Idol' Ad.
By MATT RICHTEL The New York Times January 14, 2009
Some AT&T Wireless customers have voted an emphatic no on a promotion for "American Idol" that popped up on their phones this week.
AT&T, a sponsor of the show, said it sent text messages to a "significant number" of its 75 million customers, urging them to tune in to the season premiere on Tuesday night.
But some recipients thought the message was a breach of cellphone etiquette, and gave it the kind of reaction that the "Idol" judge Simon Cowell might give an off-key crooner.
The online service Twitter had a steady stream of complaints. "AT&T just sent me a text message advertisement about 'American Idol.' Evil," a Twitter user named Joe Brockmeier wrote on Tuesday. "The economic downturn definitely means a spam upswing."
Another user named Nick Dawson wrote: "Seriously AT&T? Did you just text me twice during a meeting to tell me about 'American Idol?' Very professional!"
Mark Siegel, a spokesman for AT&T Wireless, said the message was meant as a friendly reminder. "We want people to watch the show and participate," Mr. Siegel said. He added, "It makes perfect sense to use texting to tell people about a show built on texting."
Because AT&T is a sponsor of "American Idol," only its customers can use their cellphones to vote for their favorite singers via text message - so viewer participation means more revenue for AT&T.
In the advertisement, AT&T told recipients to "Get ready for American Idol" and pointed them to a company Web site promoting an "Idol"-related sweepstakes. It noted that recipients were not charged for the message, and that they could opt out of future advertisements by responding with the word "stop."
Mr. Siegel said the message went to subscribers who had voted for "Idol" singers in the past, and other "heavy texters." He said the message could not be classified as spam because it was free and because it allowed people to decline future missives.
...
Yes, AT&T, it _WAS_ spam.
Unsolicited and commercial = spam. "Opt out" is _NOT_ a defense.
Bill Horne Temporary Moderator
Please put [Telecom] at the end of your subject line, or I may never see your post! Thanks!
We have a new address for email submissions: telecomdigestmoderator atsign telecom-digest.org. This is only for those who submit posts via email: if you use a newsreader or a web interface to contribute to the digest, you don't need to change anything.