#viber out

In response to the destruction caused by Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan, Viber, a popular multi-platform messaging app, is offering a temporary service called "Viber Out" which lets Filipino users call regular (non Viber) numbers outside of the Philippines for free. Viber Out is the company's effort to help Filipinos contact their families abroad and let them know about their current situation. To call someone using this service, go to any contact in Viber and tap any of the numbers listed next to "Viber Out". According to Globe, the service works by allowing compatible LTE smartphones with an active Globe SIM to connect directly to Starlink satellites once they are outside Globe's terrestrial network coverage and have a clear view of the sky. The company recently used the technology following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that affected South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is urging Congress to study the impact of violent video games on Filipino youth following the recent school shooting in Tacloban City.   According to the BSP, it is working closely with BPI to assess the incident, ensure services have been restored, and determine whether additional measures are needed to prevent similar outages in the future. Read more in our articles including "Viber offers free calls to non-Viber numbers" and "Globe rolls out Starlink Satellite-to-Mobile Service in the Philippines".