Seven-Eleven stores install phones for emergency use

The move comes in response to a massive communications breakdown right after the March 11 disaster when overloaded mobile phone networks crashed as millions of people tried to make calls. Seven-Eleven said in a statement that the phones will only be used in the case of a major disaster such as an earthquake, typhoon or if a blackout occurs.

So, how exactly will these phones avoid the same problems that afflicted the public payphone network that also failed on 11 March? Will they have a hot line to the bat-phone or something? Are these phones to be on a different circuit to the aforementioned public phones?

Do not take this seriously, it's a press release. Yesterday Family Mart got a story so today 7-11. It's balanced.

Moderator: Once again, another poor contribution from you.

Gotta be the lamest, most ill-thought out, knee jerk response I've heard in awhile. Totally agree with mrsynik.

problems that afflicted the public payphone network that also failed on 11 March?

What problem was there with the payphones, other than the long line-ups? (I didn't need to use one, but everyone I saw had someone talking on it and a long, long line of people waiting their turn.) Assuming that they did work, this idea is brilliant.

Anyone here use a payphone on March 11th?

Anyone here use a payphone on March 11th?

Yup, it was a godsend. Our home line was down after the earthquake and after being shaken silly it took me till the evening to remember the pay-phone outside the local station. It took me several tries to get through to my husband because of problems with the mobile phone network, but it was such a relief to hear that the whole family was safe.

Since everyone seems to have a mobile permanently embedded in their palms these days the number of public pay phones has plummeted. This may be nothing more than a PR stunt by 7-11, but if they're going to do a stunt then a useful one like this isn't to be scoffed at. Pity it's only Tokyo, though.

Yep, saw that a few days ago on Telly.

The phones will only be put out in case of a major disaster(rest of the time they are stored). Looking at the wall-connecter that they plucked it in, I would say those are IP-Phones and thus don't rely on the local telephone network.

Good idea and hope we won't need to use them. Sure it will spread into other towns and areas.

I believe one of the reasons they are doing this is because of the 100,000 or so 帰宅困難者(commuters having difficulty getting home) caused by the March 11 quake.

Mods deleted me again! I even had a positive response JT please get your sales staff to sell space to convene stores and you can actually report news not waist time with their " Press releases"!

Moderator: It is news.

Fantastic, what would we do without our local convene. More stories please these people are a bedrock ¥800 an hour what a bargain not just milk but emergency phones too. Is there anything they can't do?

Cricky

I agree. I think convenience stores are one of the best things about Japan. I think having a landline phone ready to use in an emergency is a good idea. I used my own landline at home more than my cell phone in the aftermath of the quake.