MONTREAL, December 9, 2005 - Today, hospitalized children from CHU Sainte-Justine, who otherwise would not have the chance to meet with Santa Claus, will be able to see and speak with jolly old St. Nick through the magic of an Internet video telephone from Cisco Systems, Inc.

Montreal is the only Canadian city to host Santa's virtual visit. More than a hundred children will be given an opportunity to see and talk live with Santa during a special video telephone call that connects kids with the North Pole by pressing a single button. The children and family members will gather in common areas in the hospitals where the video telephony equipment was set up for the calls. The Cisco video telephony system will be transported to those rooms that have Internet connections so children too sick to move can participate in the program. Of course, Santa has provided Christmas gifts for all the children.

Unfortunately, many children from the CHU Sainte-Justine are too sick to leave their rooms to participate in the program," said Jean-Claude Ouellet, Vice-President, Large Enterprise & Public Sector - Quebec Cisco Systems Canada. Using Cisco technology, patients that have Internet connections in their rooms can participate in the program and speak with Santa in the North Pole right from their beds."

Children in New York, Boston and San Diego, will also have an opportunity to share their wish lists live with Santa.