O2 and Motorola partner The Brit Awards 2006, in association with Mastercard

For the 3rd year running, O2 is delighted to announce it will be the official technology partner of The BRIT Awards 2006 in association with MasterCard, and this year will do so in association with leading mobile phone manufacturer Motorola.  As well as partnering this year’s Pop Act award – last year won by McFly – O2 is powering the SMS voting mechanism, allowing music lovers to vote for their favourite acts of the year.   The BRIT Awards is the UK’s number one music show and has been running since 1977.  During this time, 309 awards have been given to the most popular, entertaining and successful UK music artists. In celebration of the partnership, O2 and Motorola have both created exclusive content that will be available to all music fans via their websites, and in addition are offering exclusive BRITs Motorola ROKR music handsets through O2 stores.   The BRITs Motorola ROKR music handset is the official mobile phone of The BRIT Awards 2006. The Motorola ROKR is the world’s first mobile phone with iTunes, enabling millions of music lovers the ability to enjoy a taste of the full iPod music experience on their always-with-them mobile phone. Motorola’s ROKR handset, complete with the ability to simply switch from listening to music to talking on the phone and back again with the push of a dedicated music key, is certainly redefining the mobile music experience.   The BRITs Motorola ROKR is available exclusively through O2’s 340 retail stores or online at www.o2.co.uk/shop,  Motorola’s special edition BRITs ROKR  features 10 free MP3 ringtones and wallpapers of the hottest music artists around plus 10 free iTunes to download and listen to on the ROKR.   Following the success of last year’s SMS voting platform, six out of the 16 categories at The BRIT Awards 2006, in association with MasterCard, can be voted for by the public via O2’s bespoke SMS voting platform.  The technology behind the voting platform is being supplied by Mobile Interactive Group.  To vote for the UK’s Urban Act, British Rock Act, Live Act or British Breakthrough Act, simply text either MTV, Kerrang, Live or Break then the name of the candidate to 87103.  For the Single Award text the command given by your local CRCA radio station to 80988 followed by the name of the candidate to 87103 and for Pop Act, text Pop to 60600**.   O2 customers will also be able to access exclusive BRIT Awards content on their mobiles via O2 Active.  Video clips will be available to download from O2 via a dedicated BRITs WAP microsite which will include performances from past and present shows as well as interview clips from nominees and winners*.  In addition to this, O2 is providing monophonic, polyphonic and truetone ringtones from all of the finalists’ latest singles, picture messaging, competitions, media messaging and BRITs news alerts.   Motorola’s website www.hellomoto.com will offer fans the opportunity to enter a virtual ‘Green Room’ at The BRITs. Consumers will be able to sign in to view information about the nominees, vote for The BRIT Awards online, watch awards footage as well as enter to win loads of cool, exclusive Motorola and The BRITs prizes.        As part of the partnership, O2 will be offering customers the chance to win one of the fantastic Motorola BRITs ROKR handsets as well as giving them the opportunity to get closer to their musical heroes with hotel packages and sought-after PIT tickets at the Awards***.   Paul Samuels, Head of Sponsorship at O2 UK, said: “The BRIT Awards are unique in allowing both fans and industry experts to come together to celebrate the best in today’s music.  O2 is delighted to be able to continue its commitment to music through this prestigious event and to allow its customers to get closer to the stars via exclusive content and once in a lifetime competitions.    “In 2005, O2 further established itself as a key player in the mobile music arena through The O2, O2 Wireless Festival, O2 NME Rock ‘n’ Roll Tour and O2 Silver Clef Awards in association with Nordoff-Robbins.   The BRIT Awards 2006 in association with MasterCard are a great way for O2 and its customers to start off the New Year on a high note and are a taste of what O2 Music has planned for the next 12 months.”