Steve Jobs Responds To Japan Quake

In an email message send to Apple staffers, Apple CEO Steve Jobs sent his condolences and Apple's support to the company's employees in Japan.

To Our Team in Japan,

We have all been following the unfolding disaster in Japan. Our hearts go out to you and your families, as well as all of your countrymen who have been touched by this tragedy.

If you need time or resources to visit or care for your families, please see HR and we will help you. If you are aware of any supplies that are needed, please also tell HR and we will do what we can to arrange delivery.

Again, our hearts go out to you during this unimaginable crisis.

Please stay safe

Jobs's letter, reproduced via MacRumors, comes after Japan's northeastern coast was slammed by both a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and massive tsunami, which killed thousands and devastated entire towns.

The message also comes shortly after Apple announced that it was postponing the launch of its iPad 2 in Japan. While the company did not cite specific reasons for the delay the company says that it is using the time to recover from the disaster.

Like other electronics companies, Apple is likely to face component shortages due to the events in Japan. One of the major electronics components suppliers in the world, forty percent of the world's NAND ram comes from Japan. Japan is also a major source of the world's semiconductor supplies.

The iPad 2, which was planned for a March 25 launch, has not been given a new Japanese release date by Apple.

Apple has been active in its response to the crisis in Japan. Via its iTunes store, the company allows customers to easily make donations to The American Red Cross, which supports donations up to $200.