AT&T, Sprint & Verizon Offer Free Calls & Texts to Japan From U.S. [UPDATED] To help people affected by the devastating earthquake in Japan, AT&T on Monday has made wireless calls from the United States and Puerto Rico to Japan free for postpaid customers through March 31. Furthermore, text messages to Japan, originating from a U.S. wireless number, will also be free through the end of the month. Wireline calls 60 minutes or shorter from the U.S. to Japan will be free between March 11 and March 31. The company has also made TV Japan, which brings 24-hour news from Japan, free through March 17 to all U-verse subscribers. Finally, AT&T points out that its wireless customers can text “redcross” to 90999 (at no cost) to donate $10 to the Red Cross and help its disaster relief efforts in the area. We’ve seen similar moves from major IT companies in the days following the earthquake in Japan; Google quickly set up an online crisis center, Microsoft offered to donate up to $100,000 for earthquake victims provided users retweet its message about the disaster, and Apple set up a special donation page [iTunes link] where users can donate money to the Red Cross. If you want to aid the disaster victims, check out our seven simple ways to help people affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Update 1: Verizon Wireless tweeted just before 11 a.m. ET that it would also be offering free calls to Japan from wireless and residential landlines, as well as free text messaging. Update 2: Sprint has joined the mix, according to Mobile Beat. Sprint and Verizon will offer free calls and messaging to postpaid subscribers until April 10.
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AT&T, Sprint & Verizon Offer Free Calls & Texts to Japan From U.S. [UPDATED]

To help people affected by the devastating earthquake in Japan, AT&T on Monday has made wireless calls from the United States and Puerto Rico to Japan free for postpaid customers through March 31. Furthermore, text messages to Japan, originating from a U.S. wireless number, will also be free through the end of the month.

Wireline calls 60 minutes or shorter from the U.S. to Japan will be free between March 11 and March 31.

The company has also made TV Japan, which brings 24-hour news from Japan, free through March 17 to all U-verse subscribers.

Finally, AT&T points out that its wireless customers can text “redcross” to 90999 (at no cost) to donate $10 to the Red Cross and help its disaster relief efforts in the area.

We’ve seen similar moves from major IT companies in the days following the earthquake in Japan; Google quickly set up an online crisis center, Microsoft offered to donate up to $100,000 for earthquake victims provided users retweet its message about the disaster, and Apple set up a special donation page [iTunes link] where users can donate money to the Red Cross.

If you want to aid the disaster victims, check out our seven simple ways to help people affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Update 1: Verizon Wireless tweeted just before 11 a.m. ET that it would also be offering free calls to Japan from wireless and residential landlines, as well as free text messaging.

Update 2: Sprint has joined the mix, according to Mobile Beat. Sprint and Verizon will offer free calls and messaging to postpaid subscribers until April 10.

Source: Mashable

Heat from the nuclear fuel rods must be removed by water in a cooling system, but that requires power to run the pumps and to align the valves in the pipes. So the plant requires a continuous supply of electricity even after the reactor stops generating its own power.

An analyst with the World Nuclear Association, a major international nuclear power group, told Reuters that he understood fresh cool water was now being pumped into the cooling system at Fukushima, reducing the threat of a meltdown.

“We understand this situation is under control,” the analysts said. The analyst said he understood that a back-up battery power system had been brought online after about an hour, and begun pumping water back into the cooling system, where the water level had been falling.

Civilian power reactors are designed with emergency diesel generators to assure the ability to continue cooling even during a blackout. Many reactors have two, assuring redundancy; some have three, so that if one must be taken out of service for maintenance, the plant can still keep running.

It was not immediately clear how many there are at Fukushima, but the operators reported earlier in the day that they were not working, prompting the evacuation.

Emergency Declared at Japanese Nuclear Plant - NYTimes.com

Source: The New York Times

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