Cable operators, though formidable competitors on a local level, face some challenges in the voice and data area. Domestic calling is fine for most people, most of the time. But global calling is essential for businesses and many people much or all of the time. So Comcast (News - Alert) will have to find partners to help it on that front. It hasn’t said who the partner is, but obviously Comcast has struck a deal with some IP voice provider, as it is launching calling to Western Europe, Latin America and Mexico.

 

The plans offer Digital Voice customers calls to 34 countries for five to ten cents per minute. The Western Europe 100 costs $4.95 extra a month and offers 100 minutes of calling to landline phones in 15 countries including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

 

The Asia 100 costs $4.95 extra a month and offers100 minutes to call landline phones in China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.

 

The Latin America 100 costs $9.95 extra a month and offers 100 minutes to call landline phones in 12 countries including Brazil, Columbia, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua.

 

The Mexico 100 costs $4.95 extra a month and supplies 100 minutes to call landline phones in Mexico.

 

That’s fine if U.S. callers want to reach landline phone numbers in these countries. Calling mobiles will be a lot more expensive, if Comcast adds that feature as well. We would think it is just a matter of time. It’s the logical next plan to offer, for more money.