All subscribers to mobile and fixed-line phone services could vote for favorite Eurovision contestant

All the users of mobile and fixed-line telephone services in Moldova will be able to vote for the favorite singer at the semifinal and final of Eurovision Song Contest 2009 that will take place in Moscow on May 14 and, respectively, May 16, the National Regulatory Agency in Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) says in a communiqué, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. According to the Agency’s director Sergiu Satnic, after discussing with most of the providers of fixed-line telephone services and networks, it was decided to put into practice a new method of ensuring access to Premium Rate numbers for all the users of fixed-line phone services. The previous years, not all the subscribers had such a possibility for organizational reasons. Thus, the users of fixed-line phone services could take part in the voting by dialing 0900 999XX, where XX is the contest number of the singer, from 1 to 25. The ANRCETI director said that the subscribers to mobile phone services will benefit from the same rights. The clients of Orange, Moldcell and Eventis could choose one of two voting methods: dial the short number 999XX, where XX is the contest number of the singer, or send an SMS with the contest number of the singer to the short number 5511. The clients of Unite can send SMS to the same number, 5511, or dial 0900 999XX. One call or SMS is equal to one vote. The price fixed by InterMobCom, the company authorized to organize the voting for Eurovision in Moldova, is 8 lei. Nineteen countries, including Moldova, will compete in the May 14 semifinal. Moldova is represented by Nelly Ciobanu. 25 countries will go through to the May 16 final. The participating countries and contest numbers of the singers are available on www.eurovision.tv. The citizens of Moldova that will be in the country on the contest days will not be able to vote for Nelly Ciobanu. Such a rule was laid down by the organizers of the contest. The Premium Rate numbers ensure access to content services provided at prices higher than normal. These numbers are allotted by the ANRTECI to providers of electronic communications services and networks at request. At the start of this year, the fixed-line phone service providers had over 1.114 million subscribers, while the mobile phone operators – more than 2.42 million subscribers.