media release 20/12/04
Santa War Declared
Telecom's 10 year monopoly on Santa calls is under threat from tiny Christchurch company TeleMessenger.
Telecom's Santa is reached by phoning him on an 0800 number, TeleMessenger's Santa phones you, you enter your phone
number at santacall.co.nz
The Telecom Santa is very low tech says Michael Mayell of TeleMessenger, it's a just a recorded message. Our new and
improved Santa Call records the child's wish-list, and emails it to the parent.
The SantaCalls are free, and are being used to demonstrate the interactive telephone technology of a TeleMessenger
Solutions Limited.
Parents enter their phone number and email address at www.santacall.co.nz and 5 seconds later their telephone rings.
During the call Santa asks the child what they would like for Christmas, and the recording is then emailed to the
parent.
"It's easy, it's fun, and our 6 and 8 year olds loved it, say Michael and Melanie Mayell, founders of TeleMessenger.
TeleMessenger software is also used to power a personal mentoring service called Aristotle, which was launched 9 months
ago, and a new communication tool, that delivers talking emails from your telephone, being launched early next year.
The convergence of the internet and the telephone combined with voice recognition software, is creating many exciting
new opportunities, according to Mr. Mayell.
The company is hoping to deliver 100,000 Santa Calls between now and Christmas.
ENDS