Secaucus, N.J. – Panasonic said Tuesday that it is now selling
Skype communication cameras and has activated the service’s video-conferencing
system for select 2010 Viera Cast-enabled HDTVs.
Panasonic also announced a promotion offering two free 3D Blu-ray
Disc titles with the purchase of one of its VT25-series 3D plasma HDTVs.
The collaboration with Skype was first announced at International
CES in January. A special video-conferencing camera for the service, model
TY-CC10W, is sold as an accessory item at a $170 suggested retail, Panasonic
said.
The system delivers the following capabilities:
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free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls;
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calls to landline or mobile phone at Skype’s low rates;
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the option to receive inbound calls via a user’s online Skype
number;
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Skype voicemail (set-up required); and
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ability to be invited to participate in voice-conference calls
with up to 24 other parties
Skype-compatible Viera plasma HDTVs include models in the VT25,
VT20, G25 and G20 series. Using the system, set owners can make voice and video
calls to family members and friends from their living rooms directly through
the connected TV.
“Adding Skype to Panasonic’s Viera Cast IPTV offerings takes the
role of the television to whole new level for consumers,” said Henry Hauser,
Panasonic display group VP. “Panasonic’s Viera Cast-enabled HDTVs have truly
become the hub of communication and connectivity in the consumer household,
enabling users to talk live via video to their family and friends right from
the comfort of their couch.”
The launch will be supported as part of Panasonic’s new Viera
HDTV advertising campaign, which will include national
, Panasonic said,
which are scheduled to begin in early June on local network TV, national cable
TV and DirecTV.
Skype currently lists more than 560 million registered users, and
offers free voice and video calling for people on Skype around the world.
Calling on Skype now accounts for 12 percent of the world’s international
calling minutes according to TeleGeography.
On Viera TVs, Skype video calling is offered in HD at up to 1,280
by 720 resolution and at a maximum frame rate of 22 fps. Skype-enabled sets
also include Viera Cast IPTV services and graphical user interface.
The TY-CC10W Skype-enabled camera is said to be the only camera enabling
access to Skype calling on Viera TVs. The camera features four unidirectional
microphones, echo-canceling system, and audio processing for collecting voices
in the living room environment. The camera also features beam-forming
technology to record clear audio over typical TV viewing distances of 3 meters
to 4 meters.
The camera plugs in to Viera Cast-enabled TVs via a USB port.
The Skype news followed Panasonic’s announcement on Monday that
between May 16 and July 10 it is offering purchasers of Panasonic Viera VT25
FullHD 3D plasma TVs 3D Blu-ray Discs of Universal Studios’ “Coraline” and 20th
Century Fox’s “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” via a mail-in coupon.
Complete details on the offer are available on the
.
Both 3D titles were authored by the Compression and Authoring
Center of Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory.
Viera
VT25 series plasma sets in the 50- ($2,600 suggested retail) and 54-inch ($3,000)
screen sizes are available in stores now. Models in the 58- ($3,400) and
65-inch ($4,300) screen sizes will be available in June. All ship with one pair
of Panasonic 3D active-shutter lens eyewear (TY-EW3D10U).
