Image courtesy of Bestuff.com

If you’re sitting at home in front of your Samsung C7000 or C8000 series TV then your probably wondering how life could really get any better. With a ridiculously thin screen, 3D picture, 240hz refresh rate, and a 7 figure contrast ratio, it doesn’t get much better. Or does it? How about not even moving away from your couch to give someone a video call over Skype. Seeing your loved ones while they are away on business or for the holidays, or just making a phone call from the couch. FreeTalk TV along with Samsung and Skype are making that dream a reality.

Image courtesy of Skype Shop

Today Freetalk Electronics announced the groundbreaking Freetalk TV device that allows you to make high quality voice and video calls over Skype directly from your Samsung compatible HDTV. Using Samsung Apps and Freetalk, you can make a Skype call exactly the same way that you do from your computer. This is great for a  family style conference call where everyone can see clearly and hear each other without crowding around your 10″ netbook. No additional charges apply for using this service once the camera is purchased. You are billed normally from Skype the same as you are while using the app on from a PC.

“The FREETALK TV is transformational technology that will empower consumers to use their television as a contemporary videophone. By working hand in hand with Skype and Samsung, we have been able to deliver a breakthrough video calling solution to consumers at a very low cost.”

Quick Specs on the Freetalk camera:

• Product dimensions (W x D x H): 231 x 35 x 66 mm.

• Connectivity:
  • Interfacing: USB 2.0.
  • Cable length: 130 cm.

• Mechanics:
  • 4 element manual focus lens.
  • Depth of focus: 50 cm ~ infinity.

• Aperture:
  • F/2.0.
  • Field of vision: 58°.
  • Video format: H.264, WVGA, YUV.

• Resolution:
  • Effective pixels: 1600 x 1200 (MAX).
  • Output image size: HD, WVGA, VGA, CIF, QVGA, QCIF.
  • Frame rate: 30fps at HD 720p (1280×720), 30fps H.264 at WVGA (768x 480) with YUV.

• Audio:
  • 4 unidirectional low noise microphones (SNR > 68 dB)
  • Beamforming picking voice from the camera direction.
  • Speech clarity C50 > 7 dB in rooms with reverb time up to 0.8 sec

This looks like a pretty cool idea if you have all the pieces to make it work. I spent some time overseas and used Skype to communicate with friends and family whenever I had enough bandwidth to do so. It would have been great for my whole family to be able to see and talk to me using a HDTV and a webcam. Freetalk chose some absolutely stunning Samsung Tv’s to pair with camera and service with. The C series are the latest Sammy offers,  with some of the best technology available on the market today. Amazon even has the 7000/8000 series on sale now with Gift card rebates and discounts. If you have one of these and happen to pick up a Freetalk camera, let us know how it works out. You can purchase a camera from the Skype Shop now for $150.

“We’re thrilled to extend Skype beyond computers and allow people to connect with family and friends through their television – at a much lower price than competing room-based video conferencing systems.” In Store Solutions is a partner merchant for the Skype Shop globally.

via FreeTalk Press Release