Free Calls to France Following Paris Terrorist Attacks

Verizon, Google,T-Mobile and Sprint are now offering free calls to France, following the November 13 Paris terrorist attacks.

129 persons have died, and 352 others have been injured in the French capital on Friday night, following a carnage at Bataclan concert hall, coupled with other suicide attacks, shootings and bombings at several restaurants, as well as close to Stade de France stadium.

The attacks have been claimed by jihadist extremist militants from ISIS, who have said that the horrific crimes have been committed in retaliation for French airstrikes in Syria and Iraq.

In response to these tragic events, Verizon has offered its condolences to those whose lives have been devastated beyond repair. As a means to show its support, the provider has declared that it would be allowing its subscribers to communicate for free from the United States to France, between November 13 and November 15.

According to a press release issued by the New York-based broadband and telecommunications company, wireless customers would be able to text their loved ones in France, or to make international long distance calls for free, with taxes and surcharges still applying, however.

In addition, Verizon home telephone customers would also be able to call France for free, from their landlines.
This would give customers the possibility to make sure that their friends and family members are safe from harm, and that they benefit from the emotional support they require, even from afar.

Similarly, Sprint’s Chief Executive Officer Marcelo Claure has also revealed that prepaid and postpaid clients using Virgin Mobile, Boost and Sprint while trying to contact friends and family from France would no longer incur any charges for international long distance calls, messaging and roaming, between November 13 and November 15.

Moreover, T-Mobile representatives have also said that postpaid Simple Choice customers would be able to call and text for free from the United States to France, or the other way round, until the weekend is finished. While the costs would still appear on invoices, they would be cancelled out by credits corresponding to the same amount.

Google has also initiated free international calls to France, using Hangouts (available on Android or iOS) or Project Fi (which is currently supported by Nexus 5X, Nexus 6 and Nexus 6P devices).

According to an announcement made on Google+ by Justine Rivero, Project Fi Community Manager, the measure was considered imperative in response to the horrific attacks which have brought France to its knees.

Meanwhile, Facebook has launched a tool called “Safety Check”, which allows users who are currently in France to mark themselves as out of danger, so that those who are concerned about their well-being can be put at ease.

Image Source: Flickr