Comcast is offering free telephone calls for its Xfinity Voice and Business Class Voice customers to Japan all through March until April 10 in an attempt to help unite Comcast (News - Alert) customers with their families and friends following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The company will waive the call charges for its customers calling to Japan during the specified timeframe.

“Our hearts go out to all of the earthquake and tsunami victims and their families,” Cathy Avgiris (News - Alert), SVP and general manager, communications and data services, said in a statement. “We want to help ensure our customers with loved ones living in or visiting Japan have the means to remain in close contact with them during this difficult time.”

Last week's 9.0 quake and tsunami set off a series of problems as it knocked out power to cooling systems at the nuclear plant on the northeast coast. Since then, four of Fukushima's six reactor units have seen fires, explosions or partial meltdowns.

Comcast will waive the charges for the calls made to both landline and mobile phones in Japan. The customers need not initiate any action for the waiver as the charges and credits will be automatically taken care of by the company. The subscriber terms and conditions of the company will otherwise apply.

Comcast Corporation, headquartered in Philadelphia, Penn., is one of the leading providers of information, entertainment and communications products and services in the United States. The company mainly operates cable system through Comcast Cable. It is also involved in the production, development and distribution of news, sports, entertainment and other content for global viewers via NBCUniversal.

Comcast has a major stake in NBCUniversal, which owns and operates news and entertainment cable network. It also owns and operates NBC Television Network, Spanish-language broadcast network named Telemundo, and local television station groups. Comcast is also involved in television production. It owns a major motion picture company named Universal Pictures. Comcast also owns and operates theme parks and resorts.

Calvin Azuri is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Calvin’s articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Carrie Schmelkin