Viber Offers Free Calls From U.S. to Countries Affected by Trump Immigration Ban
Techlist Staff
Posted On January 30, 2017
Mobile calling app Viber is going to offer free calls between United States and the countries that are under the travel ban recently implemented by Trump. It will do so by Viber Out.
The seven countries that came under the ban include Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Once the service is launched the users of Viber will easily connect to users in these seven countries via free calls to landlines and mobiles. Another initiative is that the users from the seven countries will also be able to make free calls.
Hiroshi Mikitani , the CEO of Rakuten statement on twitter,
I am very sad to see what is happening now in the US. I came to US when I was seven and I really respect big American big heart.
— 三木谷浩史 H. Mikitani (@hmikitani) January 30, 2017
Remember that, Rakuten acquired Viber for $900 million in 2014.
COO of Viber, Michael Shmilov said,
“Viber has always been committed to enabling people to connect freely and securely whenever and wherever they are. Under the current circumstances, we feel obligated to enable our users to remain close even when apart.”
On Viber website a statement reads:
“In light of recent events in the United States, we are now offering free calls to any landline or mobile number between the United States and Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen so that those affected will now have one less barrier to cross when trying to reach their loved ones.”
It is not just Viber who is taking a step to solve communication problems of the countries that came under the Trump’ controversy of sudden executive order. Lyft will donate $1 million to the American Civil Liberties Union. The CEO of Airbnb and the co-founder Brian Chesky mentioned that they will work to solve housing problems. Google also created a $2 million crisis fund after coming out against the executive order.
This seems like really a positive gesture.
