American Idol Voting Controversy : AT&T Power Texting Influenced Results?

Did AT&T Contribute to Kris Allen Victory on American Idol?
 

According to a new article in The New York Times, AT&T, who is one of the biggest corporate sponsors of American Idol, may have heavily influenced the outcome of this year's competition "by providing phones for free text-messaging services and lessons in casting blocks of votes at parties organized by fans of Kris Allen."

AT&T representatives provided the free services at two parties in Arkansas during and after the final performance last week. In the event, the representatives provided instructions on how to send "power texts," which send 10 or more text messages at the press of a single button.
 

According to sources, the power texts have an "exponentially greater effect on voting than do single text messages or calls to the show's toll-free phone lines."
 

While Fox hasn’t yet commented, AT&T issued a statement yesterday that read, “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.”