NORAD Tracks Santa, the annual affair by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, is back again this year for its 60th anniversary with exclusive content for Microsoft, including an online colouring book exclusive to Microsoft Edge, new places to explore on Bing and much more. “This year we’ve got Bing, Cortana, Microsoft Edge, Windows Maps coming together, and again, Microsoft is partnering with NORAD to bring children and their parents a delightful experience,” says Santanu Basu, senior product manager for Bing marketing.
Millions of users visit the site every December to track Santa on his global journey, and Microsoft has been the site’s partner since 2013. “Throughout the year, we can be pretty cynical. But this is one moment where we can see things again through a child’s eyes, and it gives us a fresh sense of wonder,” says Matthew Quinlan, director of product marketing for Bing. “It brings us a new perspective. Technology has brought it right into everyone’s home.”
Visitors who use the Microsoft Edge web browser on Windows 10 to surf to the NORAD Tracks Santa website will be able to interact with an exclusive digital colouring book.
The Microsoft Edge experience is new to the site, and gives kids opportunities to color in a maze, Christmas tree, presents, a wreath, reindeer, bells, snowflakes, snowmen and a sleigh.
If you have a Windows 10 device, your kids will be able to ask Cortana, “Where is Santa?” Cortana will answer back and show visuals of Santa on his annual adventure. Android and iPhone users who have downloaded the Cortana app can do the same. Around Dec 24th Cortana will also provide an automatic update on Santa’s location.
Many people travel in December and explore new places and look up directions on the Windows 10 Maps app. Throughout the month, the Maps app will remind parents to search for Santa’s coordinates – with an autosuggest for “Where is Santa.”
Visit the NORAD Tracks Santa site and discover your moment of wonder now.
