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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Mobile Handsets Provide Easy, Anytime-Anywhere Platform for Political Participation
Rock the Vote and Motorola Team to Mobilize Electorate
Youth Market's the Target in Drive to Excite, Educate and Engage for 2004 Election
LOS ANGELES, and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., March 2 -- It's Super Tuesday, and now more than ever technology is transforming the way Americans make their voices heard.
With the objective of bringing 20 million young adults to the polls in 2004, Rock the Vote (RTV) and Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT - News) are breaking new ground in an effort to excite, educate and engage 18- to 30-year-olds across the United States. Their tool of choice is the ever-present and seemingly always-on "must have" accessory - the mobile handset. The joint effort is called "Rock the Mobile Vote."
"Partnering with Motorola is a key part of our efforts to drive 20 million youth voters to the polls in November," said Jehmu Greene, president of Rock the Vote. "For the first time we're giving young people the opportunity to mobilize their voice in a new way using a very familiar vehicle - the mobile phone. Young voter turnout in 2004 is poised to break records, as the turnout in the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire primary demonstrated. The new Rock the Mobile Vote campaign hands influential young adults the power to remain politically engaged and connected while-on-the-go."
For nine months, Motorola and Rock the Vote will take familiar Election Year grassroots efforts, blend them with the power of wireless technology and pop culture, and enable people to opt into the process in new and compelling ways.
Approximately 50 percent of the 18- to 30-year-old market segment own mobile handsets - using them for everything from voice chat to text messaging, picture exchanges, gaming and internet browsing. Now, Motorola and Rock the Vote are placing political perspectives - and the process for participation - in the palm of your hand. Together, RTV and Motorola are working to create such resources as candidate information centers, election news rooms, polling location information and processes for voters to request registration materials and more.
Rock the Mobile Vote will employ a variety of engagement opportunities. For example, bi-weekly mobile polling questions will take the pulse of 18- to 30-year-olds on top-of-mind topics from education and economics to job creation and the war on terrorism. And, as would be expected of such an effort, a regular feature will ask voters which candidate is most likely to get their vote on Election Day.
"With the creation of the Rock the Mobile Vote campaign, Motorola is building on our heritage of influencing pop culture through technology, adding another historic milestone for the company," said Jason Few, vice president of marketing with Motorola's mobile handset business. "Combining our mobile technology expertise with Rock the Vote's innovative youth programming positions the campaign to engage young voters, potentially impacting the future of the political process as we know it."
The Campaign
To join the Rock the Mobile Vote campaign, visit www.rockthevote.com/wireless and take part in a free, simple opt-in process. Following a successful opt-in procedure, consumers will be part of the campaign's "Get Loud" effort, consisting of regular polling questions sent directly to the participant's mobile handset. A variety of applications will be developed to further engage young Americans in the 2004 election, including the following:
-- Get Educated. Through SMS messaging, consumers will receive regular
election updates such as reviews of candidate positions, new
endorsements, introduction of new campaign themes and much more.
And participants can visit the campaign Web site for more in-depth
election information and to track recent polling results to help
shape their political views and opinions.
-- Get Moving. With the ability to locate the closest polling booth, as
well as request a voter registration form, Rock the Mobile Vote arms
young voters with the knowledge and tools to join in the political
movement.
-- Get Free Stuff. RTV plans to provide program participants free ring
tone downloads and graphics featuring hot artists associated with
Rock the Vote. In addition, participants can also be entered to win
giveaways such as Motorola mobile handsets, music and more.
Throughout the Rock the Mobile Vote campaign, additional activities will be unveiled to further engage young adults, including mobile games, a candidate match-maker quiz, Election Day calls, text messages and more.
About Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, founded in 1990 in response to a wave of attacks on freedom of speech and artistic expression. Rock the Vote engages youth in the political process by incorporating the entertainment community and youth culture into its activities. From actors to musicians, comedians to athletes, Rock the Vote harnesses cutting-edge trends and pop culture to make political participation cool.
Rock the Vote mobilizes young people to create positive social and political change in their lives and communities. The goal of Rock the Vote's media campaigns and street team activities is to increase youth voter turnout. Rock the Vote coordinates voter registration drives, get-out-the-vote events, and voter education efforts, all with the intention of ensuring that young people take advantage of their right to vote.
About Motorola
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT - News) is a global leader in wireless, broadband and automotive communications technologies that help make life smarter, safer, simpler, synchronized and fun. Sales in 2003 were U.S. $27.1 billion. Motorola creates innovative technological solutions that benefit people at home, at work and on the move. The company also is a progressive corporate citizen dedicated to operating ethically, protecting the environment and supporting the communities in which it does business. For more information: www.motorola.com.
The opinions expressed by poll results and/or individual participants do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Motorola, Inc, Rock The Vote and/or any related subsidiaries.
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.
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