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Samsung Embeds Skype into LED HDTVs

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Samsung has just unveiled their latest HDTV line-up, the LED 7000 and LED 8000 series. Wait, before you stop and say that these are just another one-of-them Samsung HDTVs, well think again because they are actually not just your ordinary HDTVs.  These HDTVs are quite unique because of the fact that they come embedded with Skype software.

Yes, folks this simply means that you can now have the comfort of making video and voice calls through these Samsung HDTVs. Do you have any idea how crisp and clear the person you are Skype-ing with would be? Well, the idea is pretty cool for me and I would love to get one of these new Samsung HDTVs. Although we may all have to wait for quite some time since Samsung is launching the new TVs worldwide sometime before the second hald of 2010.

Going back to the two Samsung LED 7000 and 8000 series TVs. These two products will come with Samsung’s free InternetTV service as well which will let you access selected online content.  And you also need to buy the FreeTalk  TV Camera to enable the high quality video calls.  Voice calls on the other hand will be handled by Skype’s SILK audio codec which is capable of producing super-wideband audio quality.

If you don’t have a Skype account yet, you can create one using the TV’s remote control via the TV’s simple Skype interface. Of course, the bottomline is that voice calls and video calls will be free provide that you are communicating with another Skype user.

Cool? Yes, of course!. So, I’ll watch out for those Samsung LED HDTVs if I were you.

Originally posted on February 25, 2010 @ 5:52 pm

Real-Time Video Communication and Collaboration Comes to Skype via ViVu VuRoom

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ViVo, a video communication solutions provider for enterprise and Skype has just teamed up to bring real-time video communication and collaboration a reality. To make this possible, a new ViVu plug-in for Skype, called VuRoom was launched by Vivo.

VuRoom is built on the Skype platform and provides users witn instant multi-user video conferencing. This is designed to help remote business users to collaborate in real-time in the comforts of their respective offices. Hence allowing business entities to save valuable time and money.

So, how does VuRoom works? It’s quite simple actually. To enable VuRoom’s multi-user video conferencing expeirence, the meeting host needs to download and install the VuRoom plug-in. The host will then need to select the contacts they want to communicate/collaborate with and then initiate a “call group” command. Once the call confirmation pops up the session will commence.

What’s good about VuRoom is that other participants are not required to have the ViVo plug-in installed on their machine. Any participant can join the video conference by simply clicking on a specific URL for the video conference session. What’s more, whoever is presenting during the video conference will have the right to share their interface with other users.

VuRoom integrates well with most streaming video and conference solutions. It is hosted in the cloud and can be considered as iVaaS or interactive Video-as-a-Service. VuRoom can be used for both small web conferences to a bigger corporate training session.

If you’re interested with this service, VuRoom is currently available for both Windows and Mac users. VuRoom cost $9.95/month. You may register for a 30-day free trial if you can’t decide immediately whether to pay for VuRoom or not.

Originally posted on January 20, 2010 @ 11:01 am

Suddenly, Skype Gains 50% International Calling Share

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Here’s an interesting data just released by TeleGeography showing Skype getting 50% increase in its share of international calling minutes in 2009 from data of 2008. Skype managed to post a 12% market share in international calling minutes in 2009 from 2008’s 8%.

This interesting because for awhile I thought Skype has already lost its luster. With so many mobile apps that enables you to do free international calling via VOIP such as Fring and other Skype rivals including iPhone applications.

So it is but laudable that according to the Telegeography report Skype was able to accelerate Skype-to-Skype international calling minutes at the rate of almost 100%.

Over at the Skype Journal, Skype’s Sten Tamkivi gave a comprehensively interesting recount of how Skype has managed to achieve its current position right now after being a startup in 2003. Indeed, despite the trials and travails that Skype have passed through, it’s amazing that it is still alive and going strong.

Are you still using Skype to communicate with business contacts located worldwide? Or have you used other free mobile VOIP applications? I’ve got Skype in my Mac, Desktop PC, netbook and even iPhone and yet I don’t really get to use Skype  that much. I still prefer to communicate with business contacts through the old email system.

Originally posted on January 19, 2010 @ 7:43 pm

Skype Supports HD Video Calls on PC and HDTV

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As if awakening from a deep slumber, Skype suddenly comes back to life and announced just in time for CES 2010 their latest offering – 720p HD video calls on Windows PC as well as Skype enabled-HDTVs.  Oh wait, are you still using Skype? If yes, then read to find out what these announcements are all about. If you’ve stopped using Skype a long time ago, this might be the right time to start using it again.

New Skype HD Video Calling

Although not really a full 1080p, Skype’s new 720p HD-quality video calling feature at 1280×720 resolution and up to 30 fps is enough to give you smoother and richer video calls.  To use this feature, you need a new HD webcam, PC with at least 1.8GHz dual-core processor, high-speed broadband connection and of course Skype 4.2 Beta for Windows. In case you’re wondering what HD webcams to get, be sure to check out announcement from faceVision and InStore Solution during the CES 2010. These two manufacturers are said to be coming out with new HD webcams that will work fine with Skype. These webcams will set you back for around $99 to $140.

Skype Video Calls on HDTVs

Now this one made me feel bad since I just bought a 32-inch Samsung HDTV. I should have waited for LG and Panasonic’s new HDTV models that will have an embedded Skype Software. Anyway, Skype’s video calling on HDTV will let you do the following:

  • Free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls
  • Calls to landline or mobile phones at Skype’s low rates
  • Receive inbound calls via user’s online Skype number
  • Skype voicemail
  • Voice conference calls with up to 24 other parties
  • Support for 720p HD video calls

Are we all excited about this now? I do hope so that this new features will revive the sparkle that Skype once had.

Originally posted on January 5, 2010 @ 4:36 am

Mobile Skype Client Fring Releases Video Support

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Even the best hardware features need support from services with decent traction. Otherwise, they just become useless decorations. Some Nokia smartphones come with a front-facing camera, supposedly for video chat. Thanks to inconsistent network support for videocalls, nobody actually uses it. That may change soon, as mobile Skype client Fring releases video support for Nokia 5800, N97, N95 and N82 handsets. More models coming soon.

The front-facing camera on my Nokia feels as useless and disappointing as the Nokia app store. Since Skype is my primary VoIP service, the latest version of Fring should ease that disappointment.

Originally posted on November 24, 2009 @ 2:53 pm