Following the devastation suffered in northeast Japan last Friday due to the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami, AT&T and Verizon are offering free calling and text messaging to Japan, with Verizon offering the services until April 10th while AT&T will offer the service until the ends of the month. Along with mobile services, Verizon is also offering free international long distance service to landline customers making calls to Japan, also until April 10th.
In related news, T-Mobile has waived shortcode fees for those making donations via SMS to charities, but has not followed AT&T or Verizon’s lead in waiving fees for calls and messages to Japan. Sprint has now confirmed that it will waive calling and texting fees to Japan retroactive to March 11th and continuing until April 10th.