T-Mobile, Sprint, Cricket and MetroPCS have adjusted their policies, following AT&T and then Verizon's lead. Subscribers can now call and text to Japan for free.
Following
AT&T
and Verizon Wireless' lead, T-Mobile, Sprint, Cricket Wireless and MetroPCS
have adjusted their new policies toward customers trying to reach
friends and family in Japan.
T-Mobile postpaid customers can now place calls to Japan
free of charge, retroactive from March 11 through March 31. Additionally, they
can place WiFi calls for free, to and from Japan, and send free text messages,
also through the end of the month. (Earlier in the week, T-Mobile was only offering free text messaging.)
"During this difficult time, our thoughts are with the
people of Japan," Philipp Humm, CEO and president
of T-Mobile USA, said in a March 15 statement. "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."
Sprint also is now waiving
or crediting fees for wireless calls and text messages to and from Japan, from
March 11 - the date a monstrous 8.9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan - through the month's
end.
In a March 15 statement,
the carrier added that "during times of
emergency, it has been shown that text messages may go through when calling
capabilities aren't available and may help free up networks for critical
communication between first responders, other emergency personnel and aid
workers."
Ralph Reid, Sprint's vice president of corporate social
responsibility, added, "It is Sprint's hope
that this continued support of the relief efforts in Japan will further aid
family, friends and emergency personnel affected by last week's earthquake -
helping them stay connected, safe and informed."
Cricket, a San Diego-based carrier that offers only
unlimited plans, similarly announced March 16 that it is offering free
unlimited calls to Japan through March 29, and MetroPCS has confirmed,
according to March 14 report from PhoneScoop,
that it is also supporting customers with free landline and mobile calling to
numbers in Japan over the next 30 days.
Cricket, like the others,
also is waiving the fee of text messages
sending donations to support organizations. While most texts are understood to result in a $10 donation, Cricket officials said users
can contact the following organizations to make donations in the amount of
their choice:
- American Red Cross - (800) 733-2767 or online at www.redcross.org
- World Relief - (800) 535-5433 or online at www.worldrelief.org
- Convoy of Hope - (417) 823-8998 or online at www.convoyofhope.org
- Global Giving - (877) 605-2314 or online at www.globalgiving.org
The short message "REDCROSS" sent to 90999,
"WAVE," sent to 50555, "TSUNAMI" or "SUNAMI" sent
to 50555 or "JAPAN" sent to 50555, will result in a $10 donation to
the American Red Cross, World Relief Corp., Convoy of Hope or Global Giving,
respectively.
Google, as it did with last year's earthquakes in Haiti and
Chile, as well as with the BP Gulf Oil Spill, is providing
real-time updates on the disaster and a "person finder" tool to
help people find friends and loved ones they were separated from. The dedicated
2011
Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami page also accepts donations for efforts by
the Japanese Red Cross Society, Unicef, Save the Children, the American Red
Cross and Mercy Corps.
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