Christmas is less than a week away and Google is getting into the holiday spirit (far more than I am). They have two ways they’re working to spread holiday cheer this time of year. To promote Google Voice (and subtle hints at other Google products), there is a website that allows you to create a call from Santa. Google is also partnering with NORAD to track Santa Claus on his journey around the globe on Christmas Eve.
To send a call from Santa, you just visit www.SendACallFromSanta.com and fill out their little questionnaire to customize the call for your recipient. It’s a pretty simple and fun process to go through and create the perfect greeting from Santa.
Once you’ve created Santa’s script, you can choose to have Santa call or e-mail your friend or provide a link for you to share. Here’s the call I created for all of you. With Adobe Flash, you should be able to hear Santa’s call at that link.
Google and NORAD are partnering up again as they did last year to incorporate the Santa tracking that NORAD does into Google Earth and Google Maps for Mobile. You can track Santa’s trip from www.noradsanta.org or if you have Google Earth installed on your computer, you can also track him through that 3d tool. Once you have Google Earth installed, visit the Track Santa in Google Earth page to begin following Santa’s journey.
You can also visit the NORAD Tracks Santa site for videos of Santa flying by on Christmas Eve and games to play until then in the Kids’ Countdown.
This Christmas eve, join NORAD to track Santa’s flight from your phone. On December 24th, open Google Maps for mobile and do a search for “Santa” to see his latest location.
You can also follow Santa in the sense you’re probably more familiar with hearing, on Twitter. Follow @noradsanta for updates to the NORAD Tracks Santa site and on Santa’s journey.
Have a Merry Christmas!