Is weekly telephone contact with relatives considered a form of maintaining the ties of kinship, especially if visiting them involves hardship?

The religion has urged the maintaining of kinship ties and warned against severing them. Allah has linked cutting ties with فساد (corruption/mischief) on Earth. The Sharia has not specified the amount or type of connection, so it is referred back to custom (urf). A Muslim should be keen on maintaining ties through all available means, such as meeting in person, phone calls, messages, financial support, or gifts. Maintaining ties with parents is the most obligatory and complete form of connection.