Comcast Partners With Skype For HD Video Calling

Comcast and Skype have entered into a strategic partnership that will enable Comcast customers to make HD video calls on their televisions, whether their friends and family use Skype on their home TVs, PCs, compatible smartphones or tablets. ? ?Through this arrangement, Comcast customers will be able to experience widescreen HD video calling with hundreds of millions of Skype users across the globe.

With the Comcast/Skype offering, customers can:

• ?Make and receive Skype video and audio calls, or send instant messages via Skype on a TV while watching their favorite TV show at the same time, and accept incoming calls during a TV show with the help of Caller ID.
• ?Make and receive video and audio calls, or send instant messages via Skype on a compatible mobile phone or tablet.
• ?Import friends to their address book from their Facebook, Outlook, Gmail and smartphone contact lists, find them on Skype and see when contacts are online and available to talk.

This service will be delivered on the Comcast customer’s HDTV through an adaptor box, a high-quality video camera, and a specially designed remote control that enables customers to text on Skype as well as control their television. The other calling party does not need any special equipment beyond what is needed to use Skype.

In addition, customers will be able to access mobile features through Comcast’s Xfinity Mobile app, and continue to enjoy conversations by switching from one compatible device (e.g., smartphone, tablet or television) to another.? ?Customer trials for this offering will begin in the coming months, and further product details will be made available later this year.