Verizon Wireless offers free calling and texting to Japan

Verizon announced today that it is making all postpaid wireless and landline calls to Japan free. Customers can call loved ones in the Tsunami-ravaged country between March 11 and April 20th without using any plan minutes or incurring any additional monthly charges. Wireless customers can also send free text and multimedia messages to friends and family in Japan courtesy of this new, temporary program. Verizon Wireless’ program mirrors that of AT&T Wireless which is also offering free wireless calls and texting to people in Japan.

Verizon is also making it easy for its customers to donate money to charities helping with the relief effort in Japan. Verizon has set up a program that lets customer text $10 to the following charities:

• ADRA Relief: text SUPPORT to 85944
• American Red Cross Relief: text REDCROSS to 90999
• Convoy of Hope: text TSUNAMI or SUNAMI to 50555
• GlobalGiving: text JAPAN to 50555
• International Medical Corps: text MED to 80888
• Mercy Corps: text MERCY to 25383
• Salvation Army: text JAPAN to 80888
• Save the Children Federation, Inc.: text JAPAN or TSUNAMI to 20222
• World Relief Corp. of National Association of Evangelicals: text WAVE to 50555
• World Vision, Inc.: text 4JAPAN or 4TSUNAMI to 20222

Donations made with these text messages will be deducted from a prepaid account balance or added to a postpaid account’s monthly bill. The text messages themselves will be free and 100% of the donation will go to the selected charity. Please view the press release after the break or go to Verizon Wireless’ website for more information.