U.S.Troops in Iraq Ask, “Mom, Can You Hear Me Now?”

This is one of those “awww” stories that is perfect timing for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and July 4th, thanks to Cisco, Verizon Business and Wal-Mart, along with SkyPort Global Communications and the USO (United Service Organizations). A collaborative effort of these companies is providing virtual family reunions for U.S. troops serving in Iraq. A lifelike, immersive video communications technology, known as Cisco TelePresence, enables the troops to bridge the distance and speak to and see loved ones at home. The free connections, using Verizon Business‚ Private IP network and a SkyPort satellite uplink, are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and link two remote bases inIraqto two Wal-Mart stores: one located near Camp Pendleton in Temecula,California, and the other near FortDrum in Evans Mills, New York. Two specially equipped family-gathering rooms were built in the Wal-Mart stores and opened on April 2nd. They will be available through July 6th, to include Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day and Independence Day.

Rheanna Kitch, whose husband is serving inIraq, commented: “I loved feeling like my husband was sitting right across the table from me. It makes this deployment a little bit easier being able to see my husband on a huge screen. Even though my sweetheart is half way around the world, when I am in that room he is right beside me.” Cisco TelePresence replicates face-to-face interaction so realistically that it feels as though everyone is in the same room, even though they may be thousands of miles apart. While videoconferencing has been intermittently available to service men and women, the Cisco TelePresence deployment represents the first lifelike communications of its kind between these particular troops and their families back home. Families from Camp Pendleton and Fort Drumare are using the technology to reconnect with loved ones, see children and even hold virtual birthday parties.

“Getting to seemy husband in Iraq really helps me,” said Mellisa Reynolds, who has used Cisco TelePresence in the Temecula, California Wal-Mart to connect with her husband inIraq.“It’s so comforting to go to the Wal-Mart store and be that close to him, as if he is right next to me. TelePresence makes it so much easier to communicate with him because I can see his facial expressions when he talks. You can’t see that in an email or phone call.”—Temecula, California and Evans Mills, New York