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"American Idol" will launch a mobile venture simultaneous with the start of its sixth season on Jan. 16, Fremantle Media exec VP of licensing worldwide Keith Hindle announced Monday at NATPE Mobile.

"Idol," long credited with opening up the text messaging market in this country, will begin making full video performances of the contestant's tracks available immediately after the show airs (for the U.S., that means after the last transmission in Hawaii).

Hindle said that a local version of "Idol" current airs in 32 countries. "All text in their vote," he said, "with most paying for the privilege."

Season one had 110 million voters via SMS alone; by season five, this number had swelled to 570 million.

But online voting is not in the immediate future for "Idol" viewers. "Not secure enough," Hindle explained.