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Following in AT&T’s footsteps, Verizon’s gone ahead and one-upped Ma Bell’s plans to allow their customers to call Japanese residents for free. The deal lasts until April 10th while AT&T’s program ends at the end of this month. It’s easy to look at this as a public relations race to the finish, but we don’t want to be too insensitive to what’s going on in that part of the world. Still, the timing is interesting and we wouldn’t be surprised if both T-Mobile and Sprint are next in line. Read on for the full press details.
VERIZON MAKES CALLS FREE TO JAPAN FROM MARCH 11 TO APRIL 10
Verizon Wireless Customers Can Text to Japan for Free
NEW YORK – To help its customers contact loved ones in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami, Verizon is making calls to Japan free for most wireless and residential customers through April 10.All Verizon Wireless post-paid customers will receive free calling to Japan from March 11 through April 10. Post-paid customers are those who receive a monthly bill from the company. In addition, Verizon Wireless post-paid customers in the U.S. will receive free text and multimedia messaging to Japan for the same time period.
Verizon Wireless has also made it easy for customers to text donations to a host of non-profit organizations responding to the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Customers can easily make a $10 donation by simply sending a text message and may choose from 10 organizations aiding those in need in Japan.
All calls made from a Verizon residential landline to Japan will be rated at $0.00 per minute, from March 11 through April 10. Customers with Verizon World Plan (300, 500 or unlimited minutes of long-distance calling) can call Japan without using any minutes from their time-allotment blocks.
Additionally, Verizon Prepaid Phone Card charges for all long-distance calls placed to Japan from the United States will also be waived from March 11 until April 10.
The company is also providing FiOS TV customers who are not subscribed to the channel free access to TV Japan through March 17. The channel location is 1770.
* Only long-distance usage charges associated with calls made from residential landlines terminating to wireline or wireless destinations in Japan will be waived from Mar. 11 – April 10. All other fees including taxes, surcharges, monthly recurring charges (MRCs), minimum spend levels (MSLs), monthly minimum charges (MMCs), etc will continue to apply. Post-paid calling card charges to Japan will also be waived.
** If long distance calling fees were charged, credits will be issued in a future bill statement.
Not that it’s too relative to the site, but Time Warner also jumped in with this over the weekend for their Cable/Phone service.
Great idea for a change, To help people who can really it.
glad to see another carrier hop on board with this idea. now hopefully sprint and t mo will hop on and every one will be able to get in on this relief effort. well done verizon and att, hop on board sprint and tmo!
Sprint and tmo need to do this too, its a great pr move. Plus it helps people out. Its a bi winning move!
We need help from our neighbouring country..
Save us..
And there are more phone companies who joined with the FREE call to Japan program. I say it was a big help to reach out to friends and relatives there.