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For the first time, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 1 listeners will be able to send the radio station free picture messages from their mobile phones, as part of the "Access All Areas" week, which will give unprecedented access to what goes on at the station via bbc.co.uk/radio1.

On Friday 11 December 2009, listeners in the United Kingdom can send free picture messages to the Radio 1 messaging number (81199), for a chance to see their images featured on the Radio 1 website.

Picture Messaging Day is designed to help young listeners unleash the full messaging power in their mobile devices by encouraging interaction with Radio 1 through picture messages.

Mobile industry trade body The Mobile Data Association (MDA) has brought together each of the UK's major mobile network operators to form a partnership with the ´óÏó´«Ã½ which aims to get more young people involved with the station. The MDA has also launched an educational website with the long-term aim of helping people to send picture messages: www.getsettings.org.

Ben Chapman, Interactive Editor at Radio 1, said: "Our goal is to mix the listeners' picture messages with images of our DJs in an innovative way, so they all follow the theme of a well known piece of music. We'll soon be revealing exactly how! It's a brilliant opportunity for Radio 1 to produce interactive content while explaining how to get the most out of mobile phones, and it encourages more interaction with our DJs."

Martin Ballard, Operations Director at the MDA, said: "Radio 1's Picture Messaging Day should provide a springboard to generate further interest in the medium. Our getsettings website aims to address issues around older handsets in circulation.

"But the emergence of increasingly sophisticated and affordable devices means users can begin to capitalise on the rich mobile messaging facilities which are now available, as they did with text messaging at the beginning of the decade. Getsettings will provide a single unified hub of settings information for the Picture Messaging Day and into the future."

More details about the project will be announced later this week.

Notes to Editors

About the picture messaging day:

1. The following UK networks are participating and have agreed to provide free picture messages to the Radio 1 text number 81199 for the day: 3, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Vodafone and Virgin Media.

2. This does not include pictures sent from Eire, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

3. Only picture messages sent to the Radio 1 text number 81199 between midnight Thursday 10 December and midnight Friday 11 December will be free.

4. Mobile phones fitted with cameras should all be able to send picture messages. Most phones are now instantly set up to send picture messages "out of the box".

5. Phones which are not locked to the SIM's network might need to have the correct settings installed. These are usually phones which have previously been used on a different network or are being used with "SIM only" contracts. The correct settings are available from the Mobile Network Operators' websites or further information and links are available at www.getsettings.org.

6. Customers must have Picture Messaging included in their contracts (pre-pay or post-pay) and Picture Messaging must be enabled on their handsets.

TM