NFL Kicks Off Wireless Super Bowl
Barring any unforeseen wardrobe malfunctions, Super Bowl XXXIX may go down in history as the most high-tech spectacle ever to hit the grid iron.
The National Football League (NFL) is teaming up with America Online (AOL) and Motorola for the first "Wireless Super Bowl." Fans in attendance at Jacksonville or at home can make their voices heard by casting their lots in MVP Balloting and Favorite Commercial Voting. Likewise, in another Super Bowl first, ALLTEL Stadium will be equipped with wireless Internet services.
Armchair quarterbacks who have plans with wireless carriers including Cingular, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile can participate in the polls by texting "vote" to 46265 before the game. A $0.50 US charge will appear on the customer's bills. An AOL spokesperson said that results will be announced Monday, February 7, 2005.
The interactive voting will be powered by software from Mobile 365.
In previous years, voting required a desktop Internet connection. Wireless voting complements polls that will be taken through the AOL service and the AOL.com portal site. AOL will host replays of the commercials on its Web properties.
Additional services will be provided by the NFL and its partners including real-time game statistics and other miscellaneous Super Bowl information, live SuperBowl.com Playoff Challenge game fantasy football statistics, as well as THQ-produced ring tones and wallpapers.
In 2004, users cast over 3.5 million votes and streamed commercials over 9.2 million times.