High Quality Video calls now available with Skype 3.6 for Windows
November 15, 2007
LUXEMBOURG, Nov. 15, 2007 — Skype today released the latest version of its communication software, making it possible to enjoy free High Quality Video calls that are sharper, smoother and better than anything you’ve seen on Skype™ before. Two weeks ago, Skype and Logitech, the world’s leading manufacturer of webcams, announced a collaboration to deliver a new benchmark of video calls over the Internet. Today’s release of Skype 3.6 for Windows makes High Quality Video a reality.
“Our recent announcement made many people realize that sharp, smooth and life-like video calls on the internet should be available to everyone, not just big companies with expensive video-conferencing equipment,“ said Gareth O‘Loughlin, Skype’s general manager, mobile and hardware devices. “Those who’ve previewed High Quality Video have been blown away by its realism. Today, with Skype 3.6 for Windows, the Genie is out of the bottle for good.”
Whether it’s a father reading a book to his kids back home while he travels for work, grandchildren giving their grandparents a close-up view of their first lost tooth, or colleagues connecting across continents to discuss a business proposal, High Quality Video on Skype offers image-perfect detail and clarity that help people connect better with their friends and families, co-workers and clients.
High Quality Video (Skype 3.6 for Windows and Logitech QuickCam® software, version 11.5) brings VGA-quality video calls (640x480 pixels) at up to 30 frames per second (fps) to people using a broadband connection (384 kbps connection or higher), a High Quality Video-certified Logitech webcam and a PC with a dual-core processor. As a result, users can enjoy significantly sharper and smoother video calls – even in full-screen mode.
A collaborative effort between Logitech and Skype, the High Quality Video experience is created through the unique combination of Skype software, Logitech webcams, and a fully redesigned set of drivers in the QuickCam software, all of which are optimized to work together in a way never achieved before on Skype. Logitech’s new webcam drivers are specially tuned to recognize callers who have this latest version of Skype software.
High Quality Video on Skype is available with the following Logitech webcams: the Logitech® QuickCam® Pro 9000, the Logitech® QuickCam® Pro for Notebooks and the Logitech® QuickCam® Orbit AF (Logitech® QuickCam® Sphere AF in Europe).
Pricing and Availability
Skype 3.6 for Windows supports 28 languages and is available as a free download at skype.com. Logitech’s QuickCam software version 11.5 is available for free download at www.logitech.com/downloads.
The Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 and Logitech QuickCam Pro for Notebooks webcams are now available for a suggested retail price of $99.99 in the U.S. and EUR 99.99 in Europe. The Logitech QuickCam Orbit AF (QuickCam Sphere AF) is available now in the U.S. and Europe for $129.99 and EUR 129.99, respectively. These webcams are also available for purchase at skype.com/shop.
About Skype
Skype sets the standard in providing new and easy ways to stay in touch over the internet. Millions of people every day make free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls and send instant messages using our software. Some pay a little per minute for long-distance and international calls to phones and mobiles and for SMS, voicemail and call forwarding, or they buy subscriptions that give unlimited calls nationwide.
We certify and sell hundreds of hardware products from more than 50 partners and work with third-party developers to create software to extend Skype's functionality. Skype has been downloaded more than half a billion times and over 246 million people from almost every corner of the globe have registered.
Skype is an eBay company (NASDAQ: EBAY), and you can learn more and get Skype at www.skype.com. Make your world a smaller place: talk, share and do more with Skype.
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Access to a broadband Internet connection is required for Skype and all Skype Certified devices and accessories. Skype is not a replacement for your traditional telephone service and cannot be used for emergency calling.
Skype, SkypeIn, SkypeOut, Skype Me, Skype Certified, Skypecasts, associated logos and the “S” symbol are trademarks of Skype Limited.
Logitech, the Logitech logo, and other Logitech marks are registered in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information about Logitech and its products, visit the company’s Web site at www.logitech.com.
