Viber offers free overseas calls to Nepalese users after deadly quake

Following the magnitude-7.8 quake that hit Nepal, instant messaging service Viber has temporarily switched off the billing for its Viber Out feature so Nepalese users can call any destination for free.

In a post on its official Facebook page Sunday, Viber said it is hopeful that providing the Viber Out feature for free will be helpful to its Nepalese users in the earthquake’s aftermath.

The feature enables Viber users to make calls to overseas and non-Viber numbers.

Aside from allowing its Nepalese users to call landline numbers for free, Viber said it is also currently working on allowing Viber Out calls to Nepal.

"We are working on opening free Viber Out calls to Nepal too. Watch this space,” it said.

In 2013, Viber offered its Viber Out feature for free in the Philippines to allow its users affected by typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) to call non-Viber numbers without charge.

More than 2,200 people have been reportedly killed in the temblor that hit Kathmandu Valley on Saturday. A major aftershock, measured at magnitude 6.7, was experienced between Kathmandu and Everest Sunday, which resulted in more avalanches in the Himalayas.

No Filipino was among the casualties of the killer quake, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. — Xianne Arcangel/BM, GMA News