Free calls to Japan in response to tsunami for Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile

As threats of tsunami and radiation fade in the Pacific Northwest many residents still have loved ones directly affected by the disaster in Japan.

In response, three of the largest telephone companies are offering free services.

AT&T

AT&T recently announced it has implemented international calling and texting support efforts for U.S. residential wireless and wireline consumers trying to connect with loved ones in Japan, following last week's tragic earthquake and tsunami.

• 60 minutes of calls on AT&T wireline are free March 11-31.
• AT&T wireless postpaid customer will not be charged for:
  • International long distance usage from the United States and Puerto Rico to Japan
  • Text messages to Japan, originated from a U.S. Wireless Number.

Verizon

Verizon recently announced that making calls to Japan is free for most wireless and residential customers through April 10.

• Free Wireless Calling
  • All post-paid customers will receive free calling to Japan from March 11 through April 10. Additionally, post-paid customers will receive free text and multimedia messaging to Japan for the same time period.
    *Post-paid customers are those who receive a monthly bill from our company.
• Additional Measures
  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 a Verizon World Plan (300, 500 or unlimited minutes of long-distance calling) can call Japan without using any minutes from their time-allotment blocks.
• 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.
  Were providing FiOS TV customers who are not subscribed to the channel free access to TV Japan through March 17. The channel location is 1770.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile USA Waives Call Charges to Japan and Wi-Fi Calling and Text Messaging Charges to and From Japan. 

• 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.