Cingular Steps Up Text Messaging For Relief Efforts

April 30th, 2006

Cingular Wireless is offering many of its customers the opportunity to use text messaging to make contributions that will help victims of the tsunamis that hit South Asia and East Africa on Dec. 26. Separately, the company and its employees will donate up to $2 million to disaster relief efforts.

'We are encouraging our customers and our employees to do what they can to help. Every contribution, small or large, can make a big difference in providing relief to the people affected by this disaster,' said Stan Sigman, president and CEO of Cingular, in a statement. 'In the coming days and weeks, Cingular will look at other forms of assistance we might provide.'

Many Cingular customers will receive a free text message inviting them to make a donation of $1.99 or 99 cents to one of three organizations: The International Fund of the American Red Cross, UNICEF and the Save the Children Fund. Customers who reply with the organization of their choice and donation amount will see the charge on their next bill.

Many other telecom companies have stepped up to help as well, with several European mobile operators prompting their customers to donate through text messaging. Telecom Italia said its test message relief fund effort helped raise $20 million by the end of last week.