Family Conference Calls For
The Holidays
I'll Be Home For Christmas ...Thanks
to the Telephone
Ah, the holidays. It's that special time of year
when family reunites at the old homestead for Mom's Thanksgiving
turkey or the opening of Christmas presents. Sounds like something
right out of a Norman Rockwell painting, doesn't it? It is.
These days families are spread far and
wide, and everyone is busy, busy, busy. Mom's on one side of
the country. Grandparents are on the other. Kids, grandkids,
ex-spouses, and in-laws are spread everywhere in between. Some
are overseas, on duty with the military or living in their homelands.
The chances of everyone sharing the holidays together? It's actually
a very good possibility!
Gathering Family and Friends Electronically
Traditional holiday calls to Mom are something eagerly anticipated.
But, they can't possibly resemble the big group discussions with
everyone laughing and jumping in with comments whenever they
please. Now you can recreate that atmosphere anytime you wish
with the new technology of personal conference calling. You're
familiar with business conference calls where a bunch of people
in one meeting room carry on a discussion with another group
hundreds or thousands of miles away. That principle is now available
at prices families can readily afford. Plus, you're not limited
to two locations. Your family conferences can include individuals
or groups at up to 16 locations in the USA or 50 countries worldwide.
Amazing? Yes. Practical? You bet!
Scene 1: Mom's Thanksgiving Dinner Table
Mom is about to set the turkey on the table, just as in Norman
Rockwell's painting. Everybody is laughing and clapping and carrying
on, just as you might envision. But, the only ones present in
the room are Mom, Dad and one aunt who lives nearby. Where is
all the commotion coming from? It sounds like there are a dozen
more sons, daughters and grandkids taking part in the festivities.
In the center of the table is something
other than the gravy boat. The magic is being made by an inexpensive
speakerphone. In half a dozen houses in half a dozen states,
the exact same scene is duplicated. Small family groups sitting
down to Thanksgiving dinner, yet joined as one united group with
all their relatives. Each has a speakerphone at the table. Each
is able to hear everything that is going on with everyone else.
Anyone can speak up at anytime, just like they were at a much
larger dinner table in person.
Scene 2: Christmas Morning
One of my fondest childhood memories is the year my uncle came
for Christmas with his new reel to reel tape recorder. He set
it up in the corner of the room and switched it on just as us
kids thundered down the stairs to the living room early Christmas
morning. When I listen to those tapes now, I'm immediately back
there in my family's living room, circa 1960.
Today, imagine similar kids thundering
down the stairs towards a brightly lit Christmas tree surrounded
by presents. Right there, near the tree sits a speakerphone that
is conferenced in to other family members living rooms. Across
the country, kids are squealing with delight and shredding wrapping
paper. One grandpa in Florida is having quite a chuckle. An aunt
in Iowa chimes in with a few comments. Everybody can hear Jimmy's
new train set start up in Seattle. Somewhere in Virginia a talking
lion doll roars. The parents are all busy wishing each other
the best of the season. It truly is the next best thing to everybody
being together in person.
Personal Conference Calls Are More Affordable
Than You Think
The new technology of personal conference calling isn't just
for wealthy families. Just about anyone can afford a holiday
conference call. The cost? It's a mere 9.9 cents a minute for
each leg that joins in within the US 48 states. For example,
if 8 households anywhere from California to Maine enjoyed a holiday
conference call that lasted 30 minutes, the cost would be just
$23.76. That's right. For under $25 you can unite your far-flung
family members at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, or any other
time of your choosing. The rate is the same, day or night, 7
days a week. There are also rates for those in Alaska, Hawaii
and 50 countries around the world to dial-in and join the conference.
While it is always nice to have everyone together in person,
we all know that just isn't very practical most of the time.
For less than the price of even one airplane ticket, think of
how much time you can all enjoy with your personal conference
call.
What Do I Need To Have a Personal Conference
Call?
Basically all you need is a telephone at each location and the
CogniConference(TM) system. You can all use regular handsets or even
cell phones, if you wish. But, for the most spontaneous fun I'd
suggest picking up an inexpensive speakerphone for each location.
You can find these on sale at electronics stores as low as $19.99.
The speakerphones let you talk and listen hands-free.
Hint to Santa: A speakerphone would make
an excellent gift for someone who doesn't have one. Make sure
the tag reads "Open Before Christmas."
What's Does It Take to Get Set Up For
Conference Calling?
CogniConference(TM) is available for fast and easy sign up right online.
There is no monthly fee or fee per conference. You can sign up
anytime. While accounts can be set up in as little as one day,
I'd suggest getting your account early, so you can become familiar
with how the system works and maybe even do a test conference
before the big event. You get a personalized account administration
website to control your conferences. You can then schedule, monitor
and cancel conferences with simple email notification to participants.
Conferences are billed to your credit card at the per minute
rate times the number of legs participating. In other words,
you pay only for the time you use for your actual conferences.
Of course, you'll get complete details on how all of this works
once your account is established.
Can This Conferencing System Be Used
For Business?
Sure, but not on Christmas morning, please. Otherwise someone
might mutter the name Scrooge. Actually, the CogniConference(TM) system
is perfect for business use and can save you a small fortune
over other teleconferencing solutions. Go ahead, use it during
the holidays. Set up a virtual corporate wide holiday party linking
all of your offices. Even include some important customers. They'll
surely get a kick out of it and remember this unusual treat for
a long time to come.
Try It. You'll Be Setting Up Conference
Calls All Year Long
There is one small risk to getting started using CogniConference(TM) that I
should mention. Once you've had your first virtual holiday gathering
via conference calling and see how much fun it is for so little
money, you might get hooked. It will be tempting to start having
conferences for birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's Day, Father's
Day, engagements, and so on. In fact, Mom may insist on it. Then
again, isn't this a really nice thing to do for your mother?
I know she'd agree.
Visit our Services
page or go directly to order CogniConference
family or business conference calling.
You may also be interested in our videophone
service. Read "Family Video
Calls" to see what you can do with pictures added to
your conversatons.
