Skype, Logitech Partner for Video Calling

In 1970, AT&T introduced "Picturephone" service in Pittsburgh. It flopped. In fact, the average person wouldn't normally think to turn to a telephone or cable company to buy or use video-enabled communications. Instead, one might think of WebEx, Cisco, Packet8 or Skype. And options on the mass market front just got better.

Skype and Logitech have partnered to create a High Quality Video experience using Skype 3.6 for Windows and Logitech QuickCam software, version 11.5.

The new capability provides VGA-quality video calls (640-by-480-pixels) at up to 30 frames per second over connections of 384 kbps connection or higher, when using a
High Quality Video-certified Logitech webcam and a PC with a dual-core processor.

Obviously, both end points need the set-up to ensure the best experience. This is a potential experience changer, as it should allow full-screen images with decent quality.

Skype 3.6 for Windows is expected to be available in early November in 28 languages. The Logitech QuickCam software version 11.5 is expected to be available at the same time.

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 is available now in the U.S. market and Europe for $129.99 and EUR 129.99, respectively.

Who Will Create the "Conference in a Pocket" Phone?

The rumored Google Phone will have to carve out a niche beyond "smart phone" or "feature phone" to get any serious traction. Perhaps it can create a new dual-mode position, since nobody really has that one nailed down yet. It might be a stretch to create a position based on "location based services," since it is doubtful most people will understand that.

But some new developments elsewhere suggest it might ultimately be possible for somebody to capture a new "conference in my pocket" position. Webex now has created an iPhone compatible PCNow capability, opening a bit of a wedge for conferencing. And iotum says it will develop a conference app running on BlackBerry and Facebook.

The point is not simply the size of the niche, but the ability to create a buyer reason to use one service or terminal instead of others. There are lots of devices that handle email. But BlackBerry created and "owns" the "email in your pocket" mental niche. That doesn't mean only the BlackBerry can do this, but that the mental position creates a compelling reason to buy and use a BlackBerry even though other smart phones can do so. The iPhone's position still is developing, though the initial positioning is as a fashionista device.

The point is that the creation of a compelling mental positioning allows a device or service to stand out in a crowd of alternatives that arguably can provide the same basic functionality. A "conference in your pocket" device can provide the same sorts of marketing value.