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nytimes.com - AT&T, one of the biggest corporate sponsors of “American Idol,” might have influenced last week's outcome by providing phones for free text-messaging services and lessons in casting blocks of votes at parties organized by fans of Kris Allen.

There appear to have been no similar efforts to provide free texting services to supporters of Adam Lambert, who finished as the runner-up to Allen.

A spokesman for AT&T said, “In Arkansas, we were invited to attend the local watch parties organized by the community. A few local employees brought a small number of demo phones with them and provided texting tutorials to those who were interested.”

The reps at Allen's parties demonstrated how to send 10 or more text messages at the press of a single button, known as power texts. Power texts have an exponentially greater effect on voting than do single text messages or calls to the show’s toll-free phone lines.... Read full article »