Manifone: Free calls to Tibet
Manifone, a French international discount calling service, and ING Telecom, a termination provider (selling local phone numbers) offer free phone calls to Tibet from the countries Manifone serves. Free also to Tibet's government in exile in Dharamsala, India.
Manifone's rates are usually 0.04 $/min, but they promise not to charge. No word on how long this offer lasts (until Tibet is independent?)
Skype doesn't appear to have published SkypeOut rates for Tibet.
News release below the fold...
Hat tip to so@rion for this bit of telecom-centric political protest during the Olympic torch protest season.
Photo from today's Olympic torch run in San Francisco by Scott Beale / Laughing Squid.
News release: Manifone Offers Free Calls to Tibet
Vannes, France, 9th April 2008 Manifone, an innovative telephony service provider and ING Telecom, a major French telecommunication termination provider have today announced, that in a joint action they would offer non-profit organizations free phone calls to Tibet. The offer is intended to show solidarity to the people in Tibet and help the work of humanitarian organizations that support them. Since the exile-government of Tibet resides in Dharamsala, India, free calls to that city are included in the offer as well. All non-profit organizations dealing specifically with Tibet are invited to get in touch with Manifone via the contact page of the website http://www.manifone.com.
Manifone's cost-saving telephony service works with all existing telephones, including mobile phones, on all networks, in the UK, USA, Canada, and other countries covered. Due to its flexibility, it can be of great help to field staff, which often have no choice but to use their mobile phones to place International calls. Manifone's service substitutes International phone numbers with local numbers.
That way, all Internationals contacts become reachable on local phone numbers, and it is Manifone that takes care of the International part of the call. For the initiative `Free calls to Tibet', the International part of the call is offered by Manifone.
About Manifone:
Created in October 2006, Manifone is an innovative voice over IP operator that allows individuals and companies to considerably reduce their international mobile telephone bills. Thanks to its unique Direct Numbers technology, Manifone is the only fully transparent VoIP operator of this type. More information on Manifone: www.manifone.com
Contact information: Lounis Goudjil, General Manager
phone: +33 (0)6 13 63 08 17
email: l.goudjil @ manifone.com
About ING Telecom: ING Telecom is a major French telecommunications termination provider, providing premium quality voice termination to practically any destination in the world.
Comments
All nations, and especially the US, should boycott the opening ceremonies. I believe it is the best compromise position. The athletes still get to compete but China gets exposed to the full measure of world displeasure with their horrible human rights abuses.
Posted by: poetryman69 | April 9, 2008 03:55 PM
All nations, and especially the US, should boycott the opening ceremonies. I believe it is the best compromise position. The athletes still get to compete but China gets exposed to the full measure of world displeasure with their horrible human rights abuses.
Posted by: poetryman69 | April 9, 2008 06:06 PM