Skype and the Sendai earthquake and tsunami
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 (here’s 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.
