Last year Skype video chat made it into the living room as an app on TVs. This year Panasonic and Sony are bring the same video calling capability to your existing set.
With 2011 the DMP-BDT310, DMP-BDT210, and DMP-BDT110 Viera Cast-enabled Blu-ray players from Panasonic and the BDP-S780 Internet-connected BRAVIA Blu-ray box from Sony (shown below), you'll simply have to plug in a compatible webcam to connect to people via Skype (See our step-by-step guide).
Panasonic's solution will stream 720p HD video while Sony's player will be limited to standard definition connections.
The players and cameras will be available this spring. The Sony BDP-S780 will cost $250. Other prices haven't been announced.
