Up until 2008, everything was the same the tracker would open on the 24th of December and close on the 25th. In 2005, Keyhole Earth Viewer became 'Google Earth' and so it became free. The audience was small due to Keyhole being a paid product. was acquired by Google, they followed Santa in the 'Keyhole Earth Viewer' (Google Earth's original name) and called it the 'Keyhole Santa Radar'. In early 2004, Google saw the NORAD Tracks Santa service and said they 'felt like it could be better for users to 'visualize' where Santa is currently at'.
It was inspired by NORAD Tracks Santa, which has operated since 1955. The Google Santa Tracker is an annual Christmas-themed entertainment program first launched in 2004 by Google that simulates the tracking of the legendary character Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, and before that also allows users to play, watch, and learn through little activities that are added daily in December.
