AT&T: Calls, Texts To Japan Free Through March

AT&T is reaching out to help customers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico contact people in tsunami- and earthquake-stricken Japan.

From March 11 until March 31, AT&T is offering postpaid wireless customers free international long distance calls and text messages to Japan.

Wireline customers are also eligible for up to 60 minutes of free calling credits to Japan. Upon receiving their monthly bill, wireline customers can call AT&T to have the credits retroactively deducted.

“Connecting with family and friends is most important at times like this— we want to make it as easy and worry free as possible for our customers,” AT&T's Vice President of Voice and Data Products, Mark Collins, said in a statement, posted by Boy Genius Report.

AT&T is also encouraging its customers to donate $10 to the Japan relief effort by texting “redcross” to 90999.

Mashable reports that Verizon has announced a similar plan to offer free calls and texts to Japan.

To find out how you can contribute to Japan's recovery, visit The Huffington Post's Earthquake Relief Options. View our live blog for up-to-the-minute coverage of the unfolding crisis in Japan.

Comments

[Acetyl Ornithine]

05:38 PM on 03/17/2011

I just called AT&T and asked about this, and the gentleman I spoke with says that AT&T is not offering free calls to Japan for their cellphone customers. Catharine Smith, did you call AT&T to confirm this? It's also not listed on any of AT&T's websites.

Be aware the PRNewswire is a pay-to-post news wire and shouldn't be considered a reliable news source.

[AllyCat7]

04:49 AM on 03/15/2011

They are just doing this so people don't pay attention to the internet data caps they just started to enforce. Nice try, AT

[Damian2009]

11:01 PM on 03/14/2011

http://uscellularforum.com/off-topic/54-t-verizon-sprint-offer-free-calling-texting-japan-through-march.html

[KarateKid]

07:53 PM on 03/14/2011

Wow, thanks, AT&T. My calls to my relatives were free. Cool.

[Morgantheaxe]

05:03 PM on 03/14/2011

I tell you I am liking At&t more and more. I was leary at first because of the information, that proved to be totally false and unfounded or course, the ihaters were spreading about At&t. I heard horrible rhumors about dropped calls, poor coverage, and of course those dreaded data plan caps. Reality of course after I went ahead and listened to a family member and bought an iphone4 with at&t is that I get great service, great coverage and don't come anywhere near my cap. Most months not withing a quarter of my cap. Bottom line half my family (aunts, uncles, in-laws, nephews, etc) use droids with Verizon service and half of us use iphone4's with at&t. The half with droids and Verizon all hate phones and service and are all quite vocal about it. The half of our family with the iphone4's and at&t love our phones and service. I have to tell you ihaters (I suspect most are children) wasted months of my time and almost drove me to make a very bad decision that would have cost thousands. It's not a joke people. It's not just a little bit of change even when it's your parents paying for it. Most of us work hard for our money and need good information not ihater garbage.

[Bioxoxide]

04:15 PM on 03/14/2011

Talk about PR.

"Cap those internet users!"

customers revolt

"Shut them up with free calls to Japan!"

[Parade Keegan]

03:36 PM on 03/14/2011

Wow, just when I was thinking how "money grubbing" (new data plan roll outs) AT

[imusintheevening]

02:12 PM on 03/14/2011

Call Japan Free?

I do that all the time with Skype, or for a few pennies with Vonage.

[prepaidcallingcard]

04:29 AM on 03/28/2011

Great offer here. I got more options to call my husband who is in Japan.

[plazma]

11:42 AM on 03/14/2011

Its a nice thing to do, but Im sure they did it for more than one reason though... probably to use it as a donation to use on their taxes.

[dblshell]

01:09 AM on 03/16/2011

B I N G O !

Give that man a prize, Johnny.

And let's not forget to mention all the great press...

Meanwhile, they are the tip of the spear on capping and Net Neutrality.

It's was a corporate head fake and you didn't buy it.

Kudos for not yelling "Squirrel!', plazma.

[Thomas River]

10:23 AM on 03/14/2011

Very classy AT&T. Well done.