Comcast / Xfininy Provides Free Calls to Japan

Comcast announced today that they will be providing free calls to Japan from March 11 through April 10th for all Comcast Voice Customers.  Nice to see a big corporation like Comcast stepping up to help people keep in touch with their loved ones during a tragedy.  Kudos Comcast!!!!

Xfinity Signature Support

Xfinity / Comcast is in the process of rolling out a new service called Xfinity Signature Support.  This service will (for a fee) offer technical support and hardware protection for your home electrtonics.  The equipment protection would cover computers and or flat panel TVs.

They appear to have a couple Personal Technical Support Plans available.

Complete Home Support Plan - $19.95 / Month

Provides 24/7 phone support for up to 4 computers, your wireless neetwork, cameras, gaming systems and IPODS.

Wireless Networking Support - $5.95 / Month

Provides setup and 24/7 support for wireless networking questions

Computer Maintenance Plan - $4.95 / Month

Provides Services to Optimize, clean and secure all of the PCs in your home.

They are also offering various One Time Fix Services:

• Internet Security and Virus Removal - $129.95
• Compuer Tune Up - $49.95
• Wireless Networking Setup - $79.95
• General Help - $49.95
• Computer or Software Setup and Installation - $49.95 - $149.95

Being a fairly technical IT person I handle my support issues myself, so I do not see myself using these support services.  But I do find myself gettnig random calls from family and friends when they have issues,  so this may be something for them to try before calling me, hopefully.  I must assume that Xfinity is going directly at Geek Squad with these services.  Not sure how competetive they are price wise vs Geek Squad but for a customer Xfinity already has on the line with an issue they can just trannsfer them over to signature support rather than sending them away to another service for help with their PC issues.  My guess is the calls will be routed to a call center somewhere in India which may turn some customers off a bit.  Will be interested to see how these services get promoted in the upcoming months.