Comcast to bring Skype video chat to HDTVs

Comcast subscribers will soon have the option to use HD video calling via Skype (which was recently purchased by Microsoft) on their TVs, the cable company announced Tuesday.

Through the service, users will be able to make and receive video calls, or communicate through instant messages while they watch TV. There will also be a caller ID feature. Comcast will provide a high-quality video camera, a cable box, and a remote control that enables subscribers to communicate through text.

The service is expected to begin trials in the coming months, with more details to be released later this year. No pricing details were announced.

Consumer Reports recently called Skype "an outstanding value" in our tests of Voice-over-Internet (VoIP) services, but added that its "Ratings for voice quality and reliability were among the lowest, and that it doesn't support 911." (Ratings for Skype and other VoIP services are available to subscribers.)

Sources:
Comcast and Skype announce agreement to bring a new HD video calling experience to the television [Comcast]

Read more:
What the Microsoft-Skype deal may mean for consumers

—Evan MacDonald