Skype and the Sendai earthquake and tsunami – free WiFi and Skype Credit vouchers
Over the last few days, we’ve been watching and listening to reports from around the world about the ways people are using Skype to communicate during this time of crisis in Japan.
We’re fortunate to be able to report that all of our Japan-based employees and their families are safe, and we’re also incredibly fortunate to be among the providers of technology which help people stay in touch during times of need, even when other means aren’t available.
Our hearts go out to all of those of you who have been affected by this disaster, and we’re taking two steps to help people across Japan communicate:
- Providing free WiFi at hotspots throughout Japan with Skype Access*. With Skype Access, you can connect to the Internet using Skype, and this will be free in Japan until 19th March (our help page provides a list of compatible hotspots including WEP/WPA keys if required).
- Providing all of our Japanese customers with a ¥80 Skype Credit voucher**, worth a call of more than 25 minutes to a landline phone in Japan (and to some other countries such as China and the USA) or to send text messages directly from Skype. Vouchers will be issued by email in the next few days.
If you’re in Japan, we encouraging you to participate in the Red Cross family reunification programme if you have any information which could help connect missing people. If you are outside of Japan and would like to help the relief effort in other ways, please visit the Japanese Red Cross or the International Red Cross for more information or donate directly.
* Connection to a Skype Access-compatible hotspot requires the latest version of Skype. Offer will be valid until March 19, 2011 GMT.
**¥80 voucher expires April 17, 2011. The actual number of minutes you can redeem with this offer may vary based on calling destinations. A connection fee may apply. Our global calling rates can be found here.
Thanks guys, you are doing a great job and helping people here in Japan !!! everything is so hard here now. I remember after the quake last friday, we didnt get lines to do some phone calls but I got keep in touch with my family 2 hours later via Skype. Again, Thank you very much !!!
To the decision makers at skype, thank you for putting people before profits in the case of the catastrophe in japan. We have many friends in japan whose wellbeing we have been assured of through skype. The fact that you have generously given free wifi to Japanese residents so they can stay in touch with family and friends when phone and other connections are down if fantastic, and you ought to be congratulated. Thanks
クーポンを被災地にの方に譲りたいと思う。
Thank you for being so kind to the people of Japan this is a very kind way to help. Family and relationship is so important
I am in country now apart of rescuenetus.org looking to be apart of the respectful and strategic response do you have any suggestions.
Thank you Skype for helping in these very difficult times.
Such a great idea from a great company… nice to see that technology is being used in such a helpful way… contacting family is just a little part of the problems in Japan, but I am sure it is one of the most important right now! Thanks Skype!
I really love this approach, such a great initiative ::: Japan has served technology a lot since many years and now its time for Japan to be helped through technology…. we all are with you O Brothers and sisters…
Shahnawaz Chachar
That’s great idea , like your always greatest ideas . Thank you so so so so much
Skype, excellent service. appreciated!!!!! great help!!
Would you consider skyper donating minutes/credits so that you can extend the March 19 free wifi service in Japan?
What you have done is quiet great. I think this gesture will keep the spirits of the affected people high. Once again thank you Skype.
Skype is a great service at the most normal of times. My respect for the service has grown by these actions that can really help in a time of great troubles.
no amount of cash is going to help in the short term. People just need to leave . for a number of years . I got spare rooms and loads of jobs exist here in oz . its the only safe solution i can see ? if not what?
What a great way to help people… many many thank you to skype…
Erik-Shanghai, it is heart warming to see a company act wis heart not thinking about their pockets. This is a wonderful thing and you will reap the rewards.
This is a great idea! Thank you SKYPE for helping people make connections. I know using SKYPE is so important to my family since I live thousands of miles away. I can’t even imagine how special it will be for people to be able to talk and see one another using your gift in such a tragic time. WAY TO GO! My thoughts and hopes are with you Japan…
Thank you for the info, Shin. A good friend currently living in Luxembourg city was desperately trying to reach her parents, sister and nieces, anybody, smack in the middle of her hometown Sendai, Miyagi prefecture. It took her 2 1/2 days to reach a police station and 3 days to find all her dearest were alive. Skype rocks!
This is a BRILLIANT thing you’re doing! My husband and I have been extolling the virtues and awesomeness of Skype for several years, you kept us in touch when he was here in the states and I was waiting on immigration to let me move here from England… thank you for that.
And thank you for this wonderful idea for helping the people of Japan. You’re all too cool for words! Best wishes to you all, Susan Varner.
I would also like to thank skype for everything that you are doing to help people in Japan.
Hi, thank you very much for doing this. I very much appreciate your effort to make people reach their loved ones.
But one thing I’m concerned is that this kind of free calls might affect the phone lines and services in Japan.
If you are NOT in need of emergency calls to the affected area, PLEASE refrain from making unnecessary phone calls. If you can call via normal skype, that is preferred and give more opportunities for those who really need this service.
Let’s do everything we can to support those who are in need of help. Thank you.
Hola, muchas gracias por hacer este servicio. Me da allegro que las personas pueden conectar con sus familias y amigos.
Pero, tengo una preocupacion. Este servicio podría afectar líneas de teléfono en japón.
Si NO necesitan hacer llamada de emergencia, POR FAVOR, no haganlo. Si pueden llamar por otros médios o skype regular, es muy bien usar los servicios alternativa par que las personas en las regions afectadas pueden usar este servicio.
Vamos hacer todas las cosas podemos hacer ahora. Gracias.
スカイプさん、サービスを提供してくださりありがとうございます。このサービスにより、家族の安否確認が出来た人が何人もいて、これからも出てくると思います。
ただ一つ私が心配なのは、これらの無料通話が、日本国内での通話の妨げにならないかと言うことです。絶対の急用の時や、他のスカイプサービスを使える方は、そちらを使い、本当にこのサービスが必要な方が使えるよう、不必要な電話をかけない、ということも必要だと思います。
被災地以外の方が出来ることは限られていますが、出来ることは全てやっていきましょう。
Sorry for my troubling English and Spanish. Lo siento si no entienden mi inglés y español.
Sachiko Kondo
Skype, you continue to be cooler than the rest. Nice work!
This is very good to hear that Skype is helping Japanese however I would have appreciated Skype more if the same help would have extended towards Libya, Bahrain, Yemen and Saudi Arabian common people as well….
Skype shows to the world its global citizenship by bringing the power of technology to the humanitarian efforts to help JAPAN. In modern days, it’s amazing to see something that would be so technological and unpersonal becoming a powerful tool very close to people. Congratulations Skype leadership for this great move to help the japanese people. Your actions should be followed by others as an example.
I just wanted to say thank you SKYPE for helping out those in Japan.
GOD Bless
Thank you, Skype and the great visionaries that lead Skype. Technology is an enabler and you are using it in the most effective enbling possible. Skype it up.
fantastic !!! well done as a grey nomad in australia, i am often a long way away from close friends and relatives…i find skype the best way to stay in touch..congratulations
God bless you, Skype.
anyway of talking with anyone in japan
I feel so sad about the moment
Being “Human” is the most important thing in our times, since nowdays everything tends to be “impersonal” and only blunt profit seeking.
There is no greatest virtue that justifies our existence than caring for our fellow humans in times of need.
Congratulations to “Our Skype”!
Thank you skype for all your kind help and support…!!
ObG