Google, Norad team tracking Santa

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Google says it is teaming with the North American Aerospace Defense Command to allow Google Maps and Google Earth users to track Santa Claus's flight.

Google Inc. and Norad announced Tuesday that updates on Santa's Christmas Eve world tour are available for the first time to cell phone users via Google Maps for Mobile and Twitter users who add @noradsanta to their accounts, Computerworld reported Wednesday.

"The partnership between Google and Norad to bring the Norad Tracks Santa Program to children around the world has been a perfect fit," said Stacia Reddish, a Norad Tracks Santa program manager. "Google has the server power needed for the program, and the fabulous people required in the mapping arena to ensure children know where Santa will be as he makes his trek around the globe."

Brian McClendon, an engineering director at Google, wrote in a blog post that he "always thought Norad's Santa Tracker was a great holiday tradition, but I felt like it could have been even better if people could visualize exactly where Santa was on Christmas Eve.

"We're hoping this version of the tracker will be the best yet."