High quality video calls on Skype, if you have the bandwidth

by Stuart Corner

Wednesday, 31 October 2007

Skype and Logitech have announced a collaboration to supporthigher quality video - VGA resolution (640-by-480-pixels) and 30 frames persecond - in Skype calling.

This level of quality will, however,required a certified Logitech webcam and dual-core PC - it is not available forSkype on OS X or Linux - and a broadband connection with at least 384kbps inboth directions. However it should prove very popular with those able to useit. One in four Skype calls presently have some video component, according toChris Lewis, Skype's head of business development and marketing, Asia-Pacific.

According to the most recent Australian Bureau of statisticsfigures there were 1.56 million broad connections withdownload speeds of 1.5Mbps or greater in March 2007. For a standard ADSLservice, a 1.5Mbps download service comes with an upstream speed of only256kbps. To get 384kbps on ADSL users need either the new 8Mbps downstreamspeed, or an ADSL2+ service.

George Saad, general manager of Logitech Australia,predicted that: "Once people start enjoying high quality video at VGAresolution and 30 frames per second – a level of quality that is sharper andsmoother than we've ever seen on Skype before – we're confident that it willquickly become an indispensable way to stay connected."

The new service will require Skype 3.6 for Windows,available for download from early November in 28 languages and LogitechQuickCam software, version 11.5. Skype has declined to comment on if or when aMac version will be available,

According to the two companies the functionality is theresult of collaborative effort between Logitech and Skype and relies on Skypesoftware, Logitech webcams, and "a fully redesigned set of drivers in theQuickCam software, all optimised to work together in a way never achievedbefore on Skype." Logitech's new webcam drivers have been specially tunedto recognise callers who have the new Skype software. Webcams supported are:Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000; QuickCam Pro for Notebooks and QuickCam Sphere AF.

The QuickCam Pro 9000 is designed for installation on amonitor; the QuickCam Pro is for notebooks is and is sold with a protectivetravel case. The QuickCam Orbit AF webcam "can cover 190 horizontaldegrees and 100 vertical degrees of a room with its unique pan-and-tilttracking technology." The QuickCam Pro 9000 and QuickCam Pro retail for$149.00 and the QuickCam Sphere AF for $199.00.{moscomment}

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