BLS Bellsouth Cp

Cingular Customers Are Invited to Enter Unique Online Awards Program that Recognizes Creative Expression and Utilizes Messaging-Themed User Generated Content ATLANTA, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Attention data divas and messaging mavericks: Cingular Wireless announced today that it is rolling out the orange carpet and inviting its customers to take part in the inaugural Cingular Messaging Awards, the ultimate messaging event happening now on a mobile phone or PC near you. This innovative program, which Cingular believes to be the first promotional campaign of its kind, is designed to celebrate the very best in text, IM, picture and video messages. "Messaging services, once thought of by many as a trendy, nice-to-have technology, have quickly become mobile musts for consumers who want to add a little more variety and personalization in their wireless communication," said Alecia Bridgwater, marketing director with Cingular Wireless. "From tapping out text messages to capturing images on camera-capable phones, more and more consumers have embraced mobile messaging. The Cingular Messaging Awards are our way of acknowledging the popularity and growth of messaging services by showcasing the fun ways our customers have made it their own." "You like me, you really like me." Has this ever happened to you? You send a snappy text message to a bunch of friends and they all reply back letting you know that out of the hundreds of text messages they receive in a given day, yours by far is the funniest? Or, has anyone ever told you that you have an uncanny knack for IM vernacular? Better yet, does the imagery and feeling you convey in your picture and video messages make people weep with joy? If you can say "yes" to any of the above, or if you simply have a Cingular Wireless phone and want to try your luck, then you are probably ready for the Cingular Messaging Awards. "I could have been a contender." The Cingular Messaging Awards rely solely on user generated content to populate the site -- http://www.thecingularawards.com/ . Cingular customers use their cell phones to submit their messaging entries, which are then posted to the awards site for viewing and ranking by curious onlookers who will eventually determine the winners. In addition to laying claim to the title of "best of the best" in one of four messaging categories, Cingular customers are also competing to win a $5,000 cash prize. Prizes will be awarded for the best creative expression in the following categories: - TEXT: Best Text Comeback Line -- Text message your funniest come back line on your wireless phone (example: You're so skinny you can dodge rain). - IM: Best New IM Lingo -- Create a text message on your Cingular phone of what you believe to be the best new IM lingo (example: EAW - Enter and Win. Hint, hint). - PICTURE: Funniest Self-Portrait -- With your Cingular Wireless camera phone, take a picture of what you believe to be your funniest face. - VIDEO: Hottest Dance Move -- Use your Cingular video capable phone to capture video of what you believe to be the best dance moves of yourself and/or friends and family. The Cingular Messaging Awards are hosted by "Chazz," the cheesy, yet highly entertaining master of ceremonies who explains the rules of the contest and encourages site visitors to submit creative entries. All consumers, regardless of wireless carrier, are invited to visit the interactive site and rank the entries in any or all messaging categories. All mobile entries must be received by October 16 at which time a panel of judges will determine the finalists based on three criteria -- creativity, relevance to theme, and public appeal. The public will then vote online for their favorite among the finalists in each category. The grand prize winners will be posted on the site on November 10. For more information, including official contest rules, visit http://www.thecingularawards.com/. About Cingular Wireless Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 57.3 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE:BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation -- the ALLOVER(TM) network -- and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(R), 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 emailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com/ . DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless CONTACT: Kelleigh Scott Beal of Cingular Wireless, +1-404-236-6321, or Web site: http://www.thecingularawards.com/ http://www.cingular.com/ http://cingular.mediaroom.com/

Copyright