Back in January the team behind popular IM and VoIP client Skype announced they will make a push to get the client onto TVs. As Skype explained at the time, the company would embed Skype in the latest generation of internet-connected widescreen HDTVs and thus allow users to share family moments like birthday celebrations – or just have a nice chat with anybody the user wants.
Skype also explained that to use the VoIP client on a widescreen HDTV, all the user had to do was get a TV-ready webcam that was developed especially for that TV. Besides capturing video, these cameras can also capture sound very well as they include specially-designed microphones. These TV-ready webcams are now available for Panasonic and Samsung HDTVs.
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You can get the Panasonic camera online here, or you could go to your local retailer. Right now the Panasonic camera is only available in the US; but it will become available worldwide “over the next month or so.” This camera provides support for HD video at up to 1280x720 pixels at 22 frames per second.
The Samsung camera is internationally available; it provides support for high quality video at up to 1600x1200 pixels at 30 frames per second. Made by FREETALM, this camera is available for purchase in the Skype Shop here.
“Brand new cameras for Panasonic and Samsung HDTVs let you make great quality video (and voice) calls from the comfort of your sofa. They include specially designed microphones, and capture high quality video. To get Skype on your TV, you’ll need an Internet-connected TV with Skype built in, one of these special webcams, and a broadband Internet connection. Supported Samsung HDTVs are all ready to go, and the Skype software is now available on Panasonic HDTVs in the US. It’ll be rolling out to supported Panasonic TVs in the rest of the world over the next month,” commented Skype’s Peter Parkes.
In related news, Skype just recently rolled out Skype Beta 5.0 for Windows. The exciting thing about this Beta release is that it provides support for group calling for up to 5 people.
Back in January the team behind popular IM and VoIP client Skype 