Keep track of Santa's journey by phone

By The Associated Press

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Updates on Santa's Christmas preparations and climactic sleigh ride are just a phone call away this weekend.

A Silicon Valley firm set up the free service. Callers can dial 800-555-8355 and say "Santa" to hear the latest from the North Pole.

The phone service will begin tracking Santa's journey across the United States beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday, no matter the time zone.

The reports are customized for all 50 states; the system automatically determines which recording to play based on the caller's area code.

Santa's elves, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer are among the cast of characters expected to provide the phone updates.

Those who call before Sunday get what the company calls special messages from Santa or one of his many helpers.

The service is being provided by Tellme Networks, a Mountain View company that provides a variety of high-tech services to phone carriers.