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The 8.9 earthquake that struck Japan was one of the most powerful ever recorded. Even hours later, Tokyo continued to experience strong aftershocks in the magnitude 5 to 7 range. As I write this, it is past midnight and the ground is still unsteady.
In the middle of the chaos, I want to give credit where it is due. The Viber app truly saved the day.
When the initial quake hit, every major phone carrier was overwhelmed. Millions of people were trying to call loved ones at the same time, and the voice networks became completely saturated. I did not encounter a single person who was able to make a traditional voice call.
Yet my Viber app worked.
Using Viber, I was able to call my family in the United States and connect with friends across Japan. While the cellular voice network was unavailable, Viber routed calls over the data network, which remained functional. In a moment like this, it felt like having an emergency satellite phone. It allowed communication when everything else was failing.
For anyone who travels frequently, lives abroad, or simply wants a backup communication plan, I highly recommend downloading Viber. You never know when you might need it.