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Just as we expected, Sprint and T-Mobile have followed Verizon and AT&T in offering free calls and texts to Japanese residents following a devastating tsunami caused by one of the biggest earthquakes ever to be recorded. Both carriers’ promotions are retroactive from March 11th, but T-Mobile’s ends on March 31st while Sprint’s will end on April 10th. Check here for more details on Sprint’s release efforts, and T-Mobile’s press release can be found below.
T-Mobile USA Waives Call Charges to Japan and Wi-Fi Calling and Text Messaging Charges to and From Japan
http://newsroom.t-mobile.com/articles/t-mobile-assists-customers-JapanT-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced that the company is taking steps to provide relief and help customers stay connected to loved ones in the aftermath of the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan.
“During this difficult time, our thoughts are with the people of Japan,” said Philipp Humm, CEO and president, T-Mobile USA. “Many of T-Mobile’s customers, their friends and families have been directly impacted by this disaster, and our promise is to help them connect with their loved ones.”
Effective immediately:
T-Mobile USA is enabling phone calls to Japan for postpaid customers without charges for international long distance through March 31, 2011, and retroactive to March 11, 2011.T-Mobile postpaid customers can make Wi-Fi calls to and from Japan free of charge through March 31, 2011, and retroactive to March 11, 2011.
Text (SMS) messaging is also free of charge to and from Japan for T-Mobile postpaid customers through March 31, 2011 and retroactive to March 11, 2011.
Ways Customers Can Directly Assist Relief Efforts
If you are a T-Mobile prepaid or postpaid customer interested in helping immediately, you can text “REDCROSS” to 90999, and your donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts. This donation will be charged to your T-Mobile phone bill, and 100 percent of the donation goes directly to the Red Cross. There is no per-text fee for this service for T-Mobile customers who do not have a messaging plan, nor will the text be deducted from your messaging plan. Similarly, you can send donations via text message to a number of other relief organizations. T-Mobile does not charge for text messages sent to mobile giving campaigns.
Anyone knows if Rogers offers free sms or calls to Japan or not?
Prayer: How to do nothing and still think you’re helping
SAVE THE WHALES!
Steve: Hey, prayer costs no money, you get to pretend you’re helping, and you earn brownie points for your religious belief. ;)
People, if you really want to do something beneficial – something that would actually help somebody, donate to the Red Cross.
well at least you’re not offended by the use of a religious symbol in Red Cross.
Anyone know if Sprint home long distance is also offering free calling to Japan? AT&T home long distance is offering 60 minutes.
@Ari-free
I’m pretty sure the red cross symbol that Red Cross uses is NOT a religious symbol. :P
Anyways kudos to the previous posters. Don’t pray. Do something useful.
What a bunch of bullshit. If you want to help, then donate money. Praying won’t do them any good. Actually, praying won’t help anything or anyone, as there is NO ONE listening.
You’re in control. Not some God from ancient stories in an ancient book.
Alright. Just needed to get that off my chest.
the “prayer” is probably the wrong word. But the concept does work, if you know how.
http://www.whatthebleep.com/whatthebleep/
I believe in God and believe praying does something. I donate blood and money to the Red Cross. You guys who are being so critical probably don’t realize that a good portion of the people who do the pray also donate time and money to those in need.
@Mike
Maybe some of the previous posts were a little harsh but don’t get us wrong. While there are people who pray and donate resources, there are also people who only pray. What we’re trying to say is don’t forget to actually do something other than pray because prayer by itself is not going to magically save Japan and make its problems go away.
@Mike
Maybe some of the previous posts were a little harsh but don’t get us wrong. While there are people who pray and donate resources, there are also people who only pray. What we’re trying to say is don’t forget to actually do something other than pray because prayer by itself is not going to magically save Japan and make its problems go away.
Unfortunately the need of the Japanese people does not come before the agenda of those who promote hate and intolerance, probably the same group who whine about every intolerance a religion has.
God bless America.