Skype and Panasonic bring high-def calls to your living room

Panasonic Corporation, leader in camera development and high-definition technology, have teamed up with Skype to bring consumers voice and video calls through the television with their range of 2010 VIERA CAST-enabled HDTVs. The high-definition TVs will enable free Skype-to-Skype calls (and low-cost landline and mobile calls) via your TV.

The Panasonic VIERA® HDTVs come with VIERA CAST technology that enables viewer access to specifically-targeted web content. It was only a matter of time before this technology was broadened to include other online application such as VoIP. The VIERA CAST technology also allows owners to post photos and videos online, and now talk to family and friends in their living room.

TVs were a logical next step for Skype, acknowledges Skype CEO Josh Silverman. The new functionality from Panasonic will allow the option to receive inbound calls on your television as well as Skype voicemail and video conferencing.

The addition of a specially-designed high-performance camera with built-in microphone that can pick up sound from longer-than-normal distances have made such Skype calls possible. The camera delivers up to 720p video quality depending on the user’s brandwidth.

Skype is now the latest in a long line of web-based companies jumping aboard the Panasonic VIERA CAST-enabled HDTV, including Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube™, Picasa Web Albums, Bloomberg News and weather information.