WOW can you imagine calling Santa on the phone and actually getting to see him on the screen...enter the power of the videophone and some companies who are reaching out across the miles and around the world in some cases....by Joyce Schwarz blogging at Hollywood2020.blogs.com.....
Here's a pix of the 8x8, Inc. Packet8 videophone
that's being used by some kids in hospitals to call Santa
directly-- that's him on the screen!
Now in its 3rd year, Packet 8's "Videophone Visits with Santa" helps kids who are in the hospital during holidays to see and chat with Santa directly...via the Packet8 VideoPhone service that connects to Santa's "North Pole" workshop at the firm's headquarters Santa Clara, CA. According to the PR gal we talked to at 8 x 8 Inc. (and yes, that is the company's name -- and its website is...http://www.packet8.net ) the phone is sent to the hospitals and placed either in the child's room or in a community area...and the event is followed with gifts that have been requested.
It's a kewl promo -- people at 8 x 8 hire a professional Santa (shhhhh) no stuffing the CEO or PR flack into a red suit!. "We are, once again, pleased to provide children who cannot sit on Santa's lap this holiday season with the chance to visit with him remotely over our Packet8 VideoPhone services," said 8x8 Chairman and CEO Bryan Martin." Martin adds: "The fact that these children can actually see and interact with Santa, rather than just speak with him, makes a huge difference in the quality of their phone session with him. We also learned that 8 x 8 Inc will be rolling out some new styles at Showstoppers at CES...we'll check them out there...more on Santa & phones....8x8, Inc. Continues Its 'Videophone Visits with Santa' Tradition ...
and the .....CISCO SANTA CONNECTION
Cisco is calling their program that they say is also in the third year-- the Cisco Santa Connection...they've got some video on their site..kind of wild to type in Santa on the Cisco site and have something actually come up :) hmm wonder if it's on www.youtube.com too...no time to check -- but you readers can of course....http://newsroom.cisco.com/video/santa_hitech.html Looks like Cisco added a big screen...don't know if their Santa is a pro or not...
And to add to the holiday spirit-- here's your blogger with Santa Claus a long long time ago..... boy check out that snowsuit and the hair is already chopped off...sepia tone is kind of kewl though :)) js.
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