Dear valued T-Mobile customers:
As the disaster in Haiti continues to weigh so heavily on our hearts and minds, we’re very proud that many of you have chosen to contribute to the relief efforts there, and that T-Mobile and our employees also have been able to facilitate and support your goodwill. We’re pleased to announce that you – our valued T-Mobile customers – to date have donated more than $3 million via text message to support agencies that will provide life-saving services to those impacted by the devastating earthquake and its aftermath. T-Mobile salutes your generosity, and we encourage all of our customers to continue to contribute in ways that best reflect your values and spirit, as the urgent need for humanitarian assistance will only continue to grow.
In addition to your efforts, T-Mobile is focused on providing support in three key areas – assisting in uniting families; restoring wireless service in Haiti; and both donating to, and supporting, fundraising campaigns that also empower you to donate to a worthy cause.
Uniting Families
For our current customers trying to connect with loved ones in Haiti, T-Mobile has enabled phone calls to that country without charges for international long distance through Jan. 31 and retroactive to Jan. 12. This applies to postpaid and prepaid accounts. Customers already in Haiti can roam on T-Mobile’s partner networks (operated locally under the names Voila and Digicel) free-of-charge through the end of the month. In both cases, T-Mobile will remove these charges from customer bills.
Rebuilding
T-Mobile is acting swiftly to help improve cellular communications in Haiti. This week we are working to ship heavy-duty pickup trucks, portable diesel generators and temporary cell sites. All of this equipment will be used to help restore wireless communication infrastructures within Haiti. We are coordinating with various groups to get this equipment to ports, and onto the next Naval relief ships as quickly as possible.
In addition, we are working to provide 10,000 unlocked cell phones and some solar-powered charging accessories. We are also working in coordination with United States Federal relief efforts.
Fundraising
T-Mobile USA and its parent company, Deutsche Telekom, have committed nearly $200,000 to relief efforts in Haiti. T-Mobile USA is donating $50,000 to the American Red Cross’s International Relief Fund. Deutsche Telekom is donating 100,000 Euros (approximately $143,000 USD) to “Aktion Deutschland Hilft“ (Mission Germany Helps).
Also, in cooperation with the Mobile Giving Foundation, T-Mobile has joined other U.S. wireless carriers in providing free fundraising services to charities assisting the earthquake victims. Customers can text their donations to the charity and the donation will appear on the next cell phone bill. T-Mobile is not charging the charities any fees for this service.
T-Mobile is also working to speed up the transfer of donations from our customers on a weekly basis during this time of crisis so that donations get to the organizations providing relief in Haiti as quickly as possible. 100% of donations from our customers is being passed through to the organizations they designate.
Again, our thoughts are with the Haitian people and the Haitian community here in the United States. We thank all of our customers who have made mobile giving so successful, and are proud to be able to support relief efforts in so many meaningful ways.
Sincerely,
Jim Alling
Chief Operations Officer
T-Mobile USA
Lindsay Morio
T-Mobile USA Media Relations
425-383-4002
About T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG. By the end of the first quarter of 2010, approximately 150 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group - 33.7 million by T-Mobile USA - all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS, the world's most widely used digital wireless standards. T-Mobile USA's innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG.