Skype unveiled its plans to move a step away from the study room desktops to living room televisions on Tuesday. Joining the rush to make Internet applications available on TV, Skype announced that it has signed deals with LG Electronics and Panasonic to introduce High-Definition TVs with Skype’s software. This will allow users to make high-definition video calls between parties using Skype on a big screen if they are equipped with HD webcam, sufficient bandwidth and processing power.
Though analysts are not yet confident about how seriously people will buy into the idea in a big way, it’s for sure that if it goes well then Skype will stand to compete with large video conference services players like Cisco Systems and Polycom.
According to the company, both LG and Panasonic will be able to provide the TVs from mid of this year and they will come with HD webcams as optional. It will also have arrangements to pick up sound and video from couch distance, the company confirmed. However, the company is still tight lipped about pricing and other details. Currently over 30 percent of the calls made on Skype involve video calling.
Meanwhile, during the current Consumer Electronic Show many companies are expected to unveil their HD webcams specially designed for Skype’s software. Going by Skype these webcams will be able to handle the video encoding and processing on-board allowing users to enjoy video calls even without a very fast PC processor.
One such webcam is FaceVision’s FV Touchcam N1, which is expected to hit the market next month. The Touchcam has two versions, one with microphone priced at $99 and one without priced at $69. Others like In Store Solutions have also announced their webcams with on-board processing. Its Freetalk HD Pro and HD Pro Plus priced at $120 and $140 respectively will be available to consumers in March.