Partnership Will Enable Comcast Customers to Bring Family and Friends
Together Via Clear, Widescreen Skype Video Calls Using Their Existing HD
Television and Broadband Connection
PHILADELPHIA & LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) and Skype today announced
that the companies have entered into a strategic partnership that will
enable Comcast customers to communicate with family and friends through
HD video calling on their television. They will soon be able to make and
receive Skype video calls from their television, whether their friends
and family use Skype on their home TVs, PCs, compatible smartphones or
tablets.
Through this arrangement, Comcast customers will be able to experience
widescreen HD video calling that is immersive and natural. With Skype,
they can share in the excitement of a big game, a birthday party or
holiday, a bedtime story, or a casual conversation with loved ones, and
have the ability to communicate with hundreds of millions of Skype users
across the globe. As real-time video communication becomes a more
integral part of the way people connect, Skype and Comcast will bring a
simple, affordable, high-quality video calling experience to millions of
homes.
"Our unique relationship with Skype not only will change how our
customers interact with their TV, but also will create new and
meaningful ways to bring our customers closer to the people they care
about," said Neil Smit, President, Comcast Cable. "TV has evolved into a
social experience, and Comcast and Skype will be delivering a product
that personalizes the TV experience even more, and brings friends and
family together through the biggest screen in their homes."
Tony Bates, CEO, Skype, said, "We are pleased to announce this
partnership with Comcast. By combining Comcast's broad living room reach
with Skype's innovative communications platform and worldwide community
of users, we can bring video calling into the heart of the home allowing
people to share life's experiences both big and small."
Here are a few things customers will be able to do through this offering:
-
Make and receive Skype video and audio calls, or send instant messages
via Skype on a television while watching their favorite TV show at the
same time, and accept incoming calls during a TV show with the help of
Caller ID.
-
Make and receive video and audio calls, or send instant messages via
Skype on a compatible mobile phone or tablet.
-
Import friends to their address book from their Facebook, Outlook,
Gmail and smartphone contact lists, find them on Skype and see when
contacts are online and available to talk.
This service will be delivered on the Comcast customer's HDTV through an
adaptor box, a high-quality video camera, and a specially designed
remote control that enables customers to text on Skype as well as
control their television. The other calling party does not need any
special equipment beyond what is needed to use Skype.
In addition, customers will be able to access mobile features
conveniently through Comcast's Xfinity Mobile app, and continue to enjoy
conversations by switching from one compatible device (e.g., smartphone,
tablet or television) to another.
Customer trials for this offering will begin in the coming months, and
further product details will be made available later this year.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com)
is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information
and communications products and services. Comcast is principally
involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in
the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news,
sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal.
Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet
and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is
the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates
entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast
networks, local television station groups, television production
operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.
About Skype
Skype is software that enables the world's conversations. Millions of
individuals and businesses use Skype to make free video and voice calls,
send instant messages and share files with other Skype users. Every day,
people everywhere also use Skype to make low-cost calls to landlines and
mobiles. Download Skype to your computer or mobile phone at skype.com.
Comcast Corporation
Peter Dobrow, 215-286-3507
Peter_Dobrow@comcast.com
or
Jamila
Patton, 215-286-4933
Jamila_Patton@comcast.com
or
Skype
Brianna
Reynaud, 415-508-3949
brianna.reynaud@skype.net
or
Sravanthi
Agrawal, +44 7584235114
srvanthi.agrawal@skype.net
Source: Comcast Corporation
News Provided by Acquire Media
