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Microsoft Disaster Response - Nepal Earthquake
Microsoft Disaster Response Blog ^ | Apr 27, 2015 | (none)

Posted on 04/27/2015 2:59:06 PM PDT by dayglored

Microsoft is deeply saddened by the devastating events of the Nepal earthquake and we extend our deepest sympathies to all whom have been impacted. We are providing a minimum of $1 million in donations of cash, technology and services to the rescue and recovery effort in Nepal.

This includes an immediate monetary donation to NetHope – a consortium of 40+ international non-governmental organizations that specializes in improving IT connectivity among humanitarian organizations in developing countries and areas affected by disaster – to support the nonprofit’s deployment and response operations.

In addition, we want to help provide people with alternative methods of communication to reach friends and family in the region during this difficult time and therefore, we are making all Skype calls to landlines and mobiles in and out of Nepal free of charge, with immediate effect.

As well, we have activated our internal Microsoft employee Giving web site to encourage and match donations from Microsoft employees to first-responder organizations in the region, including American Red Cross, Direct Relief, International Medical Corps, Mercy Corps and World Vision.

Finally, we are in the midst of direct conversations with government officials, nonprofits and businesses in the region to determine the best deployment of our technology in this time of need and hour by hour, we will continue to assess how our technology and people can help with the rescue and relief efforts in Nepal.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: earthquake; microsoft; nepal; windowspinglist
Microsoft is responding to the earthquake in Nepal with some useful and interesting assistance.
1 posted on 04/27/2015 2:59:06 PM PDT by dayglored
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To: dayglored; Abby4116; afraidfortherepublic; aft_lizard; AF_Blue; Alas Babylon!; amigatec; ...
Not exactly a Windows ping, but good to see Microsoft stepping up and helping ... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: search on keyword "windowspinglist".

2 posted on 04/27/2015 3:00:04 PM PDT by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is...sounding pretty good about now.)
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To: dayglored

In other words, they’re forming another non-profit organization to funnel millions of dollars to the coffers of liberal elites on the facade they intend to help those who are impoverished and stricken from the quake.

Had they charity in their heart, the gifts would have already been given and they wouldn’t attempt to influence the local authorities who already have their hands full.


3 posted on 04/27/2015 3:03:40 PM PDT by Cvengr ( Adversity in life & death is inevitable; Stress is optional through faith in Christ.)
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To: dayglored; Swordmaker

So MSFT donates it’s own money. Apple asks for donations while it sits on BILLIONS of $$$$.

http://www.cnet.com/news/tech-companies-rally-behind-nepal-earthquake-survivors/


4 posted on 04/27/2015 3:10:06 PM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: dayglored
Microsoft is a multi-billion dollar industry, they offer a million bucks and a technology upgrade?
They are just trying to create more Microsoft customers.
5 posted on 04/27/2015 3:59:53 PM PDT by 5th MEB (Progressives in the open; --- FIRE FOR EFFECT!!)
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To: dayglored

Wow, tough crowd tonight. :)


6 posted on 04/27/2015 5:13:25 PM PDT by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is...sounding pretty good about now.)
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To: mad_as_he$$
You may choose to find fault with only Apple, but I don't see any of the other half-dozen companies mentioned in the article you linked above doing any cash outlays either, including Google who LOST ONE OF THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES in the avalanche:
Apple, Google, Facebook and Twitter are pitching in to help survivors of the catastrophic Nepal earthquake that occurred over the weekend.

Apple has launched a partnership with the American Red Cross, asking iTunes users to donate money through its iTunes Store for the relief efforts. Apple says that 100 percent of the donations will be made to the American Red Cross in its ongoing efforts to help survivors. Twitter is also helping to raise funds through not-for-profit organizations, including UNICEF.

Google has launched its Person Finder to help people determine whether those who may have been in the area of the earthquake are safe. Person Finder users can say whether they're "looking for someone" or "have information about someone." The service is designed for victims or people who know victims to update their family and friends on their current status. For instance, the service can provide peace-of-mind to family members, telling them that a victim is safe and sound. Google has also reduced its international calls charge to Nepal via its phone service Google Voice to one cent per minute. The company previously charged 19 cents per minute to call Nepal.

Google engineer Dan Fredinburg, who worked in the company's Project X division, was among at least 17 climbers killed when an avalanche set off by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake rolled into the climbers' base camp on Mount Everest. His death was confirmed by Google, which indicated that three other Google employees were on the mountain with Fredinburg at the time of the avalanche. "He has passed away," Lawrence You, Google's director of privacy, wrote in a blog post. "The other three Googlers with him are safe, and we are working to get them home quickly."

Soon after the Nepal earthquake hit, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg activated his company's Safety Check feature, allowing those who may have been in the area to let friends and family know they're fine. "When disasters happen, people need to know their loved ones are safe," Zuckerberg wrote on Saturday. "It's moments like this that being able to connect really matters. My thoughts are with everyone who's been caught up in this tragedy."

Telecommunications companies are also helping out. Time Warner, Verizon and AT&T have all offered their customers free calls to Nepal. Time Warner is additionally offering free calls to India and China through May 25; and Verizon and AT&T are offering free texting.


7 posted on 04/27/2015 5:22:18 PM PDT by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is...sounding pretty good about now.)
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To: dayglored
I guess cynicism is the order of the day. Must be it's Monday or sumthin.

Nevermind, everybody. No big deal.

8 posted on 04/27/2015 5:29:07 PM PDT by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is...sounding pretty good about now.)
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To: dayglored; mad_as_he$$
We don't know everything that Apple is doing for this crisis besides asking Customers to donate. They did that too in the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. The amount of money that Apple raised through the Apple iTunes store for the Japanese catastrophe was matched by Apple. I don't recall how much it was but it was in the multiple millions of dollars.

It was only weeks after that it was learned that Apple kept it's Japanese stores open 24 hours a day until the emergency was over to hold refugees and to facilitate communications into the inundated areas. In addition, Apple made additional major donations of cash and equipment, as well as staff time.

It is amazing to me how people jump at the chance to BASH Apple for perceived and imaginary slights.

9 posted on 04/27/2015 6:50:05 PM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users contnue...)
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To: Swordmaker
As you say, Swordmaker, only after time passes will we learn what all actually is going on, how these companies are helping out.

As an aside, would that there could be a competition announced, like your excellent FR donation challenge to the Apple ping list, to see which tech company could contribute the most assistance to Nepal. But with all the disasters that befall humanity each year, I suppose the shareholders of the companies might object to "involuntary contributions to causes they didn't get to vote on" or something like that... *sigh*

10 posted on 04/27/2015 7:09:05 PM PDT by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is...sounding pretty good about now.)
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To: dayglored

“Wow, tough crowd tonight”

It sure is. ;^)


11 posted on 04/27/2015 9:19:29 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin (It's a shame nobama truly doesn't care about any of this. Our country, our future, he doesn't care)
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To: Swordmaker

I don’t jump at the opportunity to bash Apple. I actively hunt for it. If they are going to tell me how to live my life I am going to bash them every chance I get.

“We don’t want to debate climate change. We want to stop it.”

https://www.apple.com/environment/

Arrogant punks.


12 posted on 04/28/2015 4:19:34 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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