Portable North Pole is back, and the app that allows little ones to get a personalized video message from Santa Claus has some new features.
The popular site has returned with some new functions to its video message portion, including new footage from Santa’s village, short clips from his team of elves, and a look into his communication center.
The Portable North Pole site itself is more robust, with personalized cards, an advent calender, and even Santa Radar so kids can track the big guy on his Christmas Eve trek around the world.
The site describes itself as follows:
“Portable North Pole is a magical online platform that lets Santa connect with his millions of friends around the world, all the way from here in the North Pole! Nothing makes Santa happier than making special “Merry Christmas!” video messages or creating one-of-a-kind puzzles for children he only gets to visit once a year on Christmas Eve…he loves it even more than the yummy treats you all leave out for him and the reindeer! Just remember that you don’t have to wait ’til Christmas to get in touch with Santa.”
The site offers the video message for free along with a store featuring a number of products. For $3.99 customers can get a personalized phone call from Santa, and for $9.99 he’ll write them a personalized letter. There are also premium videos that allow users to pick from more scenes with Santa.
The proceeds go to help a good cause, too — 5 percent of all sales go to participating Children’s Hospital foundations in the United States, UK, Ireland, Canada, and France.
Portable North Pole is particularly tech-oriented. The app itself is free for download for iOS and Android, and the video can be synched from any computer, mobile or tabled. The site was recently named App of the Day by MobileEntertainment, a site dedicated to technology and apps.
Portable North Pole joins a number of other sites using digital media to let kids actually interact with Santa Claus. NORAD offers a Santa Claus tracker that allows them to follow him along on his gift-giving journey, and a score of apps now feature interactive Santa Claus characters.
People who want to try Portable North Pole for themselves can check it out here , or see the store here .