July 10, 2002, Wednesday

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 16
LENGTH: 215 words
HEADLINE:  BRITNEY'S GOT TEXT APPEAL
BYLINE: Drew Mackenzie

BODY: BRITNEY Spears has found a new way to make money - by selling her voice.

For $ 19.99, fans can purchase a three-month subscription to the pop star's wireless fan club, which entitles them to surprise voice and text messages. They are delivered to a mailbox which subscribers have access to from their mobile phones.

The latest marketing of Brand Britney comes from WFX - a New York wireless network.
The service has been available for the past two months exclusively at Best Buy stores in America but many retailers will soon be stocking Britney WFX.

Jed Alpert, president and chief executive officer of the company, said fans who buy the Britney kit also get a replica of an all-access backstage laminated pass.

They also receive a piece of plastic the size of a phone card with a picture of Britney on the front.

An access code on the back also allows them to receive the voice and text messages from the singer and her entourage.

A sample access code provided by WFX yielded a voice message from Sonya, the head of wardrobe for 20-year-old Britney's tour, who talked about her exciting shopping with her superstar boss.

Mr. Alpert said the company has plans to create wireless fan clubs for other entertainers and expand into the sports world too.

LOAD-DATE: July 10, 2002