Skype and Haiti
Many people in Haiti are without landline or cell phone coverage since the earthquake hit on Tuesday, and so tools like Skype have become vital.
When calling Haiti Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls are completely free, and many of you have been using them over the last couple of days to stay in touch with family and friends, or to contact co-workers or support agencies during this difficult time.
To help people further, we’re emailing vouchers for $2 US of Skype Credit to of all of our users in Haiti. They’ll start appearing in inboxes in about 24 hours’ time.
The credit will let you make at least an hour’s worth of calls to landlines in the US or other countries covered by our global rate, or at least 15 minutes of calls to the Dominican Republic. You can see all of our rates here.
You can also donate to relief efforts via UNICEF or the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Our hearts go out to all of you in Haiti.
Congratulations Skype!
You are fantastic!
Thank you Skype!
I posted at my blog about this beautiful action from you:
http://ruriks.com/2010/01/14/skype-solidario-con-victimas-de-haiti/
(in spanish).
I have been trying to call Haiti and although i am not getting connected my credit is going down. I have lost over $4 so far while the phone rings and no connection is made.
Very generous. Thanks for trying to help.
It’s too bad most people in Haiti don’t have access to the internet after the earthquake…
I have been trying to call Haiti and although i am not getting connected my credit is going down. I think you are scamming people. You might say that the communication is not feasible and not deduct the credit
Same here – my calls are not going through but my credit is going down, just for the phone ringing. I have lost at least $4 in credit just from the phone ringing. It seems we’re paying for thay $2 in “free” credit you’re giving to those in Haiti.
da is so cool da skype is doing this.
@jormara1 @sndrmartijn I’m really sorry to hear you’ve been having problems – please give our support team a shout; they should be able to help you.
I don’t know him personally, just passing on the msg from Twitter… perhaps you (Skype) can help, or perhaps other users can.
He is apparently a TV/Radio personality in Haitia, which would explain why he would need/use a lot of credits. His photos have been part of the AP’s feed.
RT @carelpedre: Again, I did not intend to ask. I need to add credits to my skype. Please donate on my paypal: pedrecarel@gmail.com #Haiti
google is offering free call to haiti read this
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/983678/
Dear Mr. Peter Parkes,
Yours and SKYPE’s response to the disaster that is currently happening in Haiti is absolutely unacceptable. Giving a $2 credit to the users of Haiti, when you and SKYPE should know that there is absolutely NO INTERNET service in Haiti right now. Also, the little communication that is happening by cell phone service is mainly being initiated by the Haitian Diaspora.
As many in the diaspora have reported, that SKYPE is CHARGING even when NO CONNECTION is made to a human being.
I can only conclude that at a time when most companies with a sense of decency for human life are helping families get in touch with love ones, SKYPE is benefiting from the worst tragedy to hit the nation of Haiti in its more than 200 years of proud History.
May God be with you, always.
@haitiandiaspora.com the reason we elected to give $2 credit to our users in Haiti was because we heard reports that Skype was one of the few remaining communications options available.
We’re also removing our normal connection fee for inbound calls, and the first minute of any inbound call is free, in order to avoid charging unnecessarily for calls which don’t connect properly.
Hi,
I’m getting ready to Haiti for 6 months to do relief work. I was wondering if there was confirmation that I would be able to do Skype down there to the people back in NC. Is video and chat working for Skype for those in Haiti?
Thanks!
Danielle