Any time a disaster or tragedy of any sort strikes, people obviously want to be able to check in on family and friends who could have been affected. In the past, US carriers have always obliged, often supplying temporary waivers of all costs associated with communicating with the affected part of the world for a short time, such as offering free calls and texts to France in the wake of the tragedy in Paris, or offering free communication with Mexico for a short time after Hurricane Patricia. Typhoon Nepartak’s recent effects on Taiwan are no exception, and carriers like T-Mobile are stepping up to allow their customers to communicate with loved ones in Taiwan for free, with Sprint being the newest carrier to announce such an initiative.
All customers on Sprint and its sub-brands, Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile, will be able to take advantage of free calls and text messages to and from Taiwan between July 8 and July 14. Sprint is also catering to those who wish to be with loved ones personally or happened to be in Taiwan at the time of the disaster by waiving applicable roaming charges for voice and text, though data prices are not affected. Customers receiving free roaming in Taiwan will have the perk for the same timeline as those on US soil have free international communication.
Along with the material show of solidarity for victims of the tragedy and their loved ones and associates, Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure had some kind words to offer, saying that “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Taiwan,”. The United States’ fourth largest carrier is not the first to tend to its customers after the disaster, and certainly won’t be the last. The arrangement, as previously stated, runs between the 8th and 14th of July. Any international calling and texting charges, as well as any roaming charges springing from travel to Taiwan, will be waived if accrued during this period. Customers abroad in Taiwan will see a gap in their roaming charges for the month, but charges will resume as normal after the 14th, and charges from before the 8th will show up as normal.