Santa goes digital courtesy of Motorola

Motorola Mobility is giving parents a chance to make Santa more digital for their kids.

For the first time, the mobile phone company in Libertyville is offering parents a chance to submit their children’s holiday wish lists or holiday greeting by sending a text or leaving a voice mail on Santa’s personal number, 1-925-25-SANTA (72682).

There’s also a chance to talk to Santa live during a video chat hosted at YouTube.com/Motorola using Google+ Hangout on Air on Dec. 15.

While it’s free to participate in the live chat, your data or voice package will determine the costs for the texts or Santa calls, said Motorola spokeswoman Danielle K. McNally

“We’re excited to offer families a way to connect with Santa in the digital age,” she said.

Surfing:AT&T has launched AT&T Alerts, a free opt-in, location-based text messaging alerts service that allows AT&T Wireless customers nationwide to save money with offers from nearby retailers on their mobile phones. AT&T Alerts uses geolocation technology and consumer preferences to deliver offers and rewards, without having to download an application. Text “JOIN” to ATTAlerts (288253787) to opt-in and receive discounts, rewards and offers via text message when they are near participating retailers and brands such as Gap, Staples, Zales, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Duracell, Motorola, Discover, and more. Also visit http://alerts.att.com/join.

Ÿ Skokie-based Peapod.com is expanding convenience for shoppers by offering an alternative to its popular delivery service: Peapod Pick-Up with same-day service available. The company’s second Chicagoland pickup location opened Tuesday at 677 Lake-Cook Road in Deerfield. The first opened in Palatine in early October. Other pickup locations are planned for Schaumburg and Libertyville early next year.

Ÿ Chicago-based Morningstar Inc., a provider of investment research, has debuted its Morningstar StockInvestorSMApp for iPad, a mobile, interactive version of its newsletter for equity investors, now available from the Newsstand on the App Store.

Ÿ Follow Anna Marie Kukec on LinkedIn and Facebook and as AMKukec on Twitter. Write to her at akukec@dailyherald.com.