Smart offers free Twitter updates via SMS to Typhoon Yolanda survivors

As Smart continues to work on the restoration of network facilities affected by Typhoon Yolanda, the telco announced that it has partnered with popular social networking and micro blogging service provider Twitter in offering free Twitter updates via text messaging for Smart and Talk ‘N Text prepaid subscribers in communities in hard-hit areas.

“Access to relevant information is as important as being able to inform family and loved ones that you are among the survivors of super Typhoon Yolanda,” said Charles Lim, Executive Vice President and Division Head of Smart Wireless Consumer Business.

“Free Twitter SMS will enable our subscribers in severely damaged parts in the Visayas to keep abreast with relevant announcements and online posts from relief and disaster response agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), among others,” Lim added.

Subscribers simply need to register to be able to make use of the service.  The registration process is as follows:

For existing TWITTER users:

Text “start”  4409.
Text “YES” to 4409
Text “<your Twitter @username> (ex. @juandelacruz) to 4409
Text “<your password>” to 4409
Text “FOLLOW <@username>” to 4409 – to follow an account on Twitter (ex. “FOLLOW @smartcares”)
Text “ON <@username >” to 4409 – to follow an account via Twitter SMS (ex. “ON @smartcares”)

If not an existing TWITTER user:

Text “start”  4409.
Text “Full Name” to 4409
Text “FOLLOW <@username>” to 4409 – to follow an account on Twitter (ex. “FOLLOW @smartcares”)
Text “ON <@username>” to 4409 – to follow an account via Twitter SMS (ex. “ON @smartcares”)
Recommended accounts to follow are, among others: @smartcares, @talkntext @suncelltweets @dost_pagasa, @dswdserves @philredcross and @interaksyon.

The initial offer provides up to 20 tweets that can be received for free per day for the next 14 days starting November 14. Users will not be charged for every Twitter SMS they send to these accounts.

Smart continues to focus on providing  direct assistance to the communities affected by Typhoon Yolanda, like the immediate installation of several Libreng Tawag and Libreng Charging stations in pre-identified strategic locations.  To augment the free call stations, a free all-network and international SMS bundle offer has also been provided to Smart, Sun and Talk ‘N Text subscribers.

Smart has been actively promoting SMS as the primary service to use while network restoration is ongoing. Unlike voice and data services, text messaging frees up mobile network resources, enabling more people, including humanitarian relief agencies, to communicate and coordinate the delivery of essential services.

The SMS services of Smart, Sun and Talk ‘N Text are available for financial donations to the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda. For donations to the Philippine Red Cross, subscribers can text RED <amount> and send to 4143. Ex: RED 100. Denominations accepted are for PhP10, PhP24, PhP50, PhP100, Php300, PhP500 and PhP1000.

For text donations via the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF) Brick by Brick YolandaPh fund raising initiative, just text TulongPH <amount> and send to 4483 (Ex. TulongPh 25). The same denominations as for Red Cross apply. Donations via PayPal and Smart Money can be done through the PDRF Brick by Brick site.

Source: Smart Communications