Verizon Wireless has announced that it will not charge customers for calls made to Chile. In a press release, the company said that free calling would be retroactive to the time of the earthquake and extend at least through Saturday, March 6. Roaming calls will be billed at the carrier's normal rates.

As they did after the earthquake in Haiti, the major wireless carriers are again facilitating mobile giving. Verizon Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint (including Nextel, Boost Mobile, and Virgin Mobile USA) say they will not charge for text-message donations and that each donation will appear on customers' monthly cell-phone bills.

To donate:

• Text "4CHILE" to 50555 to donate $10 to support Chile relief efforts through Convoy of Hope
• Text "CHILE" to 50555 to donate $10 through the Friends of the World Program
• Text “CHILE” to 25383 to donate $10 through Habitat for Humanity
• Text "REBUILD" to 50555 to donate $10 through Operation USA
• Text “CHILE” to 52000 to donate $10 through The Salvation Army
• Text “CHILE” to 20222 to donate $10 through World Vision
  

You can also donate through each charity's Web site. If you've never texted a donation before, here's what you should know.

—Nick K. Mandle

Combing through hundreds of blog posts and news articles daily, Dirk Klingner, our technology-trend watcher, sifts through the noise to bring you the tech news most important to consumers. If you have a tip on a story you want to share, leave a comment below.

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