Telecom take note: new flatscreen tellies are appearing that allow couch potatoes to make free voice and video calls.It's become de rigueur for TVs - at least the more expensive ones - to come bundled with wi-fi dongles or Ethernet jacks that let you watc
Telecom take note: new flatscreen tellies are appearing that allow couch potatoes to make free voice and video calls.
It’s become de rigueur for TVs - at least the more expensive ones - to come bundled with wi-fi dongles or Ethernet jacks that let you watch YouTube and other internet content on your television.
For some time, Panasonic New Zealand’s been chasing a deal with Skype.
Now, it’s finally nailed it, and is releasing a new line of Viera HD tellies with built-in support for the internet service which, famously, allows you to make a free voice call, or video call, to another Skype user (or to call a regular landline or mobile number at home or overseas for around 4 Euro cents a minute.
A TV watcher will be able to tap the Skype service by hitting a single button on their remote.
Panasonic has engineered its own Skype camera, which perches on the top of your TV. It supports high definition (720p) video, and is sold separately for $249.
The cheapest model in Panasonic’s line-up to gain Skype support is a 32-inch LCD model that sells for $1399.
