Tuesday, July 9, 2002
BRITNEY FANS, YOU'VE GOT VOICE MAIL
By ERIC R. DANTON

YOU'VE probably accepted by now that Britney Spears is never going to call, even if she had your number.

That doesn't mean, however, that she won't leave you voice mail - for a price.

For $19.99, you can purchase a three-month subscription to Britney's wireless fan club, which entitles you to "surprise" voice and text messages delivered right to a mailbox you have access to from your mobile phone.

It's the latest in the marketing of Brand Britney, this time under the guidance of WFX, a New York wireless network that joins the latest technology with entertainment fads.

The service has been available for the past two months exclusively at Best Buy stores, but other retailers will soon stock Britney WFX, says Jed Alpert, president and chief executive officer of WFX.

Fans who buy the Britney kit get kitschy goodies, including a replica of an all-access backstage laminated pass and a static cling decal.

They also get a piece of plastic the size of a phone card with a sultry picture of Britney on the front and an access code on the back that allows them to receive pre-recorded voice and text messages from the pre-packaged singer and her retinue.

A sample access code provided by WFX yielded a voice message from a woman who identified herself as Sonya, the head of wardrobe for Britney's tour.

Sonya talked on the scratchy recording about shopping for new outfits for the performer and her dancers, and mentioned that they would go shopping again in a few days.

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