American Idol 3
Beginning as the television phenomenon Pop Idol over in the UK, American Idol came to these shores last summer and became an overnight success, much like the eventual winner, Kelly Clarkson. With two shows each week, American Idol's audience grew every time out, culminating when over 30 million viewers tuned in for the finale.
The second season of American Idol was even more successful! After 50,000 auditioners and months of singing, Ruben Studdard was crowned the next American Idol!
How do I vote?
Who can vote?
When can I vote?
How much does it cost to vote?
Can I vote by using my cell phone?
I couldn't get through to the lines or all I get is a fast busy signal when I call - why?
When I called I heard the wrong contestants number - why?
What will I hear if I call the toll-free numbers?
When I called, I was told to call a "900" number - isn't American Idol voting toll-free?
Voting by Text Messaging on your wireless phone - What is Text Messaging/ SMS?
How do I vote using Text Messaging?
Is the text messaging vote system the same as the toll-free system?
Who can vote using Text Messaging?
When can I vote using Text Messaging?
How do I know my vote has been counted?
How much does it cost to vote via text message?
When I tried to vote, my handset said 'message not sent' - why?
How do I find out the results?
What's being done about power dialing?
Why can't I vote via the toll-free numbers using a payphone?
Why can't I vote on the Internet?
How can I get tickets to show tapings?
Does it cost anything to get the American Idol Newsletter?
I ordered American Idol merchandise (for example, hats, CDs, etc.), but nothing arrived. What should I do?
How do I vote?
Each contestant will be assigned his or her own toll-free number and text message short number during the Tuesday performance show. To vote, simply watch American Idol on FOX each Tuesday and dial the phone number of the contestant for whom you wish to vote. Or, AT&T Wireless subscribers may text the word ‘vote’ to the Text Messaging 4 digit short numbers promoted for each contestant. Voting will open at the end of each show. The lines will NOT be open before that. Rules and procedures are subject to change at producer’s discretion without notice.
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Who can vote?
Anyone calling or Text Messaging from within Continental US, Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico can cast their vote for the next American Idol.
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When can I vote?
Voting for American Idol opens at the end of the Tuesday show each week and stays open for at least 2 hours, subject to time zone restrictions. Outside of these times the toll-free lines will play a ‘fast busy’ signal and your call will not count as a vote. If you vote via Text Messaging outside of the vote window your vote will not count.
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How much does it cost to vote?
Telephone calls to the American Idol voting lines are toll-free. If you use a wireless phone to call the American Idol voting lines, airtime and applicable roaming and long distance charges will apply. Additionally, if you vote using AT&T Wireless Text Messaging, standard Text Messaging fees will apply see Can I Vote By Using My Cell Phone? or How Do I Vote Using Text Messaging? for more details
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Can I vote by using my cell phone?
Yes, you can vote using your cell phone, although airtime and applicable roaming charges will apply to toll-free numbers from wireless phones. Contact your cell phone service provider if you want to know how much you will be charged. Additionally, if you vote using AT&T Wireless Text Messaging, standard Text Messaging fees will apply - see How Do I Vote Using Text Messaging? for more details.
If you are calling or Text Messaging from a cell phone and you are in a different time zone from your cell phone number, the systems will accept or reject your vote based on the time zone of your cell phone area code. For example, if you have a New York cell phone area code but are calling from Los Angeles you will be voting outside the East Coast voting window and your vote will not be accepted. Try calling again from a land line telephone during the West Coast voting window.
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I couldn't get through to the lines or all I get is a fast busy signal when I call - why?
Although the telephone network is designed to handle huge volumes of calls simultaneously there may be times (particularly just after the show) when it will not be able to handle every single call due to the sheer volume. If you are calling during your voting window but can’t get through to cast your vote, be patient and try again.
If you hear the fast busy signal it may be that you are calling outside of the voting window. When your voting window closes, lines will switch from a ‘thank you for voting’ message to a fast busy signal.
If you are sure you are calling within your voting window but still can’t get through, it may be that your local phone company has been flooded with calls. Try waiting a few minutes before calling again. If you still have problems, contact your local phone company.
If you are calling from a cell phone with an area code that is in a different time zone from that in which you are calling, the system will accept or reject your vote based on the time zone of your cell phone’s area code. So, for example, if you have a New York cell phone area code but are calling from Los Angeles you will be voting outside the East Coast voting window and your vote will not be accepted. Try calling again from a landline phone.
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When I called I heard the wrong contestants number - why?
All lines for American Idol are tested before going on-air to make sure the lines work properly and are playing out the correct audio. If you call and hear the wrong contestant number it’s possible you accidentally misdialled so check the number and dial again.
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What will I hear if I call the toll-free numbers?
Voting begins at the end of the show when ALL of the contestants have performed - if you call before then, you will hear a fast busy signal and your vote will NOT count.
At the end of the show each week voting can begin and phone lines will be opened. Voting lasts for at least 2 hours, subject to local time zone restrictions, from the end of the show and during that time you will hear a pre-recorded message thanking you for voting for your chosen contestant. Each contestant will have his or her own number read/shown on air and the phone message will confirm for whom you have voted.
After the voting window, no more votes will be accepted and lines will play out a ‘fast busy’ signal.
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When I called, I was told to call a "900" number - isn't American Idol voting toll-free?
If you call to vote for your favorite American Idol contestant and hear a message to call a "900" number, you have misdialled. Do not call this "900" number to vote for American Idol, as "900" numbers are not connected to American Idol voting. Please try the American Idol toll-free numbers again, dialling carefully.
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Voting by Text Messaging on your wireless phone - What is Text Messaging/ SMS?
Text Messaging - sometimes known as SMS (short messaging service) - is a way of communicating short messages via your wireless phone. Most (but not all) handsets have this feature. For American Idol, only AT&T Wireless customers can vote by text message using their wireless phone keypad to write the message "vote" and sending it to a contestant number. This 4 digit contestant number, such as 5701, relates directly to your contestant of choice and will be displayed on the show.
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How do I vote using Text Messaging?
As with the toll-free voting, each contestant will also be assigned his or her own text message number during the show - this 4 digit short number will appear on screen with the toll-free phone numbers. To vote by text if you are an AT&T Wireless subscriber, simply watch American Idol on FOX each Tuesday, input the word VOTE into a new text message on your cell phone and send this message to the 4 digit short number assigned to your contestant of choice (such as 5701 for contestant 1). If done correctly, you will receive a message confirming your vote. You will receive a message confirming your first valid vote during the voting window regardless of how many contestants you vote for or how many votes you cast. The following day (Wednesday) you will receive a thank you confirmation from each contestant. You will only receive one confirmation per contestant.
Text message voting will open at the end of each Tuesday show and stay open for at least 2 hours, subject to local time zone limitations. Voting will NOT be open during the show or outside the foregoing two hour time period determined by the area code on your wireless phone. Votes sent outside of the voting window will be invalid. If you are sending your text vote from a wireless phone with an area code that is in a different time zone from that in which you are calling, the network will accept or reject your vote based on the time zone of your area code. So, if you have a New York cell phone area code but are voting from Los Angeles during the West Coast voting window, your vote will not be accepted. Try calling the toll-free number from a landline instead.
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Is the text messaging vote system the same as the toll-free system?
The design of the text voting is exactly the same as the toll-free voting system in terms of open/close times. The contestant numbers will also be very similar. If you wish to vote for contestant 2, for example, you can either call 1 866 IDOLS 02 (1 866 43657 02) OR text the word VOTE to 5702.
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Who can vote using Text Messaging?
Text message voting is only available to AT&T Wireless subscribers with two-way text messaging capable handsets. If you are an AT&T Wireless customer and wish to check if your handset has two-way text messaging capability, visit www.attwireless.com/text. AT&T Wireless subscribers with area codes from within Continental US, Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico can cast their text vote for American Idol. If you are not an AT&T Wireless subscriber, you can vote using the standard toll-free phone numbers instead.
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When can I vote using Text Messaging?
Voting for American Idol opens after the show each Tuesday and will stay open for at least 2 hours, subject to local time zone limitations. Votes cast outside of this voting window will be invalid.
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How do I know my vote has been counted?
Your message will have been counted if you vote during your valid voting window and receive your first confirmation message, unless your handset says ‘message not sent’.
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How much does it cost to vote via text message?
The cost of voting for AT&T Wireless subscribers varies depending on your AT&T Wireless Text Messaging plan. If you do not have an AT&T Wireless Text Messaging plan, AT&T Wireless standard Text Messaging rates apply. You will be charged for each message sent from your wireless device, regardless of delivery and including invalid votes cast outside of the specified time period. See www.attwireless.com/text for details. You will not be charged to receive the ‘thanks for voting’, or any other confirmation messages received.
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When I tried to vote, my handset said 'message not sent' - why?
Like the toll-free voting, while the Text Messaging network is designed to handle huge volumes of votes simultaneously, there may be times (particularly just after the show) when it will not be able to handle every message due to network congestion. When this happens, ‘message not sent’ will appear on your handset. Please be patient and try again later. And, don’t forget to vote within your time zone’s voting window!
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How do I find out the results?
The voting shows will air on FOX each Tuesday but the results will be broadcast on FOX each Wednesday - so make sure you don’t miss the results show if you want to see how your vote affected the results!
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What's being done about power dialing?
Production will have in place weekly monitoring procedures designed to prevent individuals from unfairly influencing the outcome of the voting by generating significant blocks of votes using technical enhancements. The producers reserve the right to remove any identified 'power dialling' votes.
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Why can't I vote via the toll-free numbers using a payphone?
Votes from payphones will be blocked. To vote for your favorite contestant, use a standard landline telephone or cell phone. Charges may apply when using your cell phone.
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Why can't I vote on the Internet?
Only toll-free and AT&T Wireless Text Messaging voting is available for American Idol
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How can I get tickets to show tapings?
Regular season shows become available on a first-come-first-served basis. Check back to www.idolonfox.com for details on how to request tickets.
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Does it cost anything to get the American Idol Newsletter?
No. The newsletter is free to receive and you may cancel at any time.
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I ordered American Idol merchandise (for example, hats, CDs, etc.), but nothing arrived. What should I do?
All retail sales are handled by outside companies. Check the Web sites where you placed your order for shipping, ordering and contact information.
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