Unfortunately companies are doing a very bad job at broadcasting their efforts in support of the Japan Earthquake/Tsunami disaster.  It took an Aussie friend of mine in Japan to post a list of U.S. companies who are contributing to the aid needed in Japan for me to find the following from AT&T:

Effective beginning March 11, and continuing through March 31, AT&T wireless postpaid customers will not be charged for:

• International long distance usage from the United States and Puerto Rico to Japan
• Text messages to Japan, originated from a U.S. wireless number

In addition, and also effective March 11 through March 31, residential wireline customers can seek credits for up to 60 minutes of direct dial calling to Japan:

Upon receiving their wireline bill, customers may call AT&T to receive adjusted calling for up to 60 minutes. In other words, no charges for up to 60 minutes of call time from the United States to Japan between March 11 and March 31.

For any of the above activity, customers will either see no charges reflected on their monthly statement, or they will see a full credit applied to their statement for activity between March 11 and March 31

This is a big deal for anyone who has ever had to deal with killer international wireless rates. So Kudos to AT&T for doing it, but maybe getting the word out should also be part of the plan or else it is just a way to demonstrate support without anyone actually being able to use it.

Anyhow, here is the entire list of companies and what they are contributing to the aid effort in Japan.

Thanks to Jason Ball for clueing me in.