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Tracking SantaDec 24, 2012 (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A defense program that monitors Santa's Christmas Eve travels is switching from Google to Microsoft this year. The NORAD Tracks Santa program -- updating children on St. Nick's whereabouts since 1955 -- worked with Google for the past five years, via Google Earth. Google is doing its own version, giving Internet users two methods of checking the jolly old elf's progress on his annual delivery run. "(The move) was totally a mutual agreement," said Al Blondin, spokesman for NORAD, the Colorado Springs-based North American Aerospace Defense Command that is operated jointly by the United States and Canada. Its everyday job is watching for signs of aircraft, missile and space attacks against North America. "There have been stories suggesting that Microsoft offered us more money," Blondin said. "People need to realize that no money is exchanged. This (Santa tracking) is a volunteer effort done in the spirit of Christmas. It just happened to be that it works out better with Bing this year." Blondin didn't offer specifics. Bing is Microsoft's Internet search engine. "It's a fantastic fit. The timing of this with all of the new products Microsoft is releasing, it's kind of a perfect storm in a way," said Dana Barnes, account team unit manager for Microsoft's Joint Defense Agencies. Microsoft will help power the NORAD program via its Bing Maps, Windows Azure and applications for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. On Christmas Eve, children can call NORAD's hotline at 877-HI-NORAD or email [email protected] to get information on Santa's whereabouts. They also can visit the NORAD Tracks Santa website at www.noradsanta.org or download the program's free applications. Blondin said 1,200 NORAD volunteers fielded a record 102,000 phone calls last Christmas Eve, while its website received 18.9 million unique visitors and Facebook users "liked" the NORAD Tracks Santa page 1 million times. The beloved program got off to an accidental start in 1955, when a Sears Roebuck & Co. store in Colorado Springs ran an ad urging children to call Santa but erroneously published the number for the Continental Air Defense Command. A supervisor ordered staff to provide updates to callers on Santa's whereabouts, and the tradition stuck -- even after NORAD assumed Air Defense Command duties in 1958. Google's Santa Tracker, also beginning Christmas Eve, will use Google Maps, Google Earth and Chrome and Android applications. People also will be able to follow Google Maps on Google+, Facebook and Twitter. Tom Fontaine is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7847 or [email protected]. ___ (c)2012 The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.) Visit The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.) at www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib Distributed by MCT Information Services |