HP announced today a new affordable high-definition video conferencing system called HP SkyRoom which promises to offer live, real-time collaboration for “instant face-to-face meetings with no subscription fees.”

Based on video and image communication technology developed at HP Labs (some of which was apparently used by NASA’s Mars rovers to transfer high resolution images back to Earth), HP SkyRoom is the only videoconferencing tool to provide real-time collaboration for up to four people over a standard business network for $149 dollars.

SkyRoom allows users to share practically any application on their PC or workstation with other participants on the call. This includes office productivity applications, streaming video apps, and even interactive 3-D applications.  Simply click on a contact to connect to (which enables the session) and then select the application to share. All participants are displayed along the side allowing everyone to see one antoher.

Key features of HP’s SkyRoom include:

• Multithreaded video engine enables all participants to see the presenter’s display and each other through a multiway videoconferencing session
• Enables the display of 2-D and 3-D graphics, full-motion video, and multi-display on a system that only has a 2-D graphics card
• SkyRoom software only transmits data that has been changed between frames (not the entire display) which it then compresses and encrypts  before sending to all the participants.

HP SkyRoom is available worldwide pre-installed at no cost on the HP Z800, Z600, Z400 and xw4600 workstations. Select premium business PCs and notebooks due out from the company will also include a 90 day trial of HP SkyRoom. Customers using current HP hardware or other non-HP hardware can purchase SkyRoom for $149 dollars.

Minimal requirements for SkyRoom include an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz processor with 2GB of RAM, a webcam, and Microsoft Windows XP or Vista. You’ll need a network connection of at least 400kb/second. SkyRoom must run over a corporate VPN to connect to systems outside of the firewall.

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Technorati Tags: HP SkyRoom, Video conferencing

Creative used CES 2008 as their venue to introduce their latest entry into the video conferencing market – the Creative inPerson device. According to the company, inPerson is ideal for one to one and small group meetings – allowing users to communicate with one another without actually having to be there “in person” (and hence.. the name of course!).

The key to all of this is the inPerson device which looks like a small portable DVD player. Since the unit is portable, you can literally bring the inPerson device wherever you go and use it wherever there is a wireless or wired Internet connection. You will need to subscribe to a low cost monthly plan in order to fully utilize the inPerson device although other users can contact you via a PC webcam.

Here are the specs to the inPerson device:

• 7 inch widescreen LCD display
• 640 x 480 resolution video
• Supports up to a bit rate of 2 Mbps
• 76 degree wide angle lens
• High quality sensor for low light performance
• Supports composite NTSC and PAL formats
• Built in acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) feature
• High sensitivity dual microphones for longer range pick up
• Built-in speaker
• Connects to 10/100 Base-T port
• Connects to wireless networks (802.11b/g)
• Removable Li-Ion battery
• Rotating camera lens
• Wireless remote control
• Supports call history, auto answer, contact lists, speed dial, and auto-login

Here is a picture of two inPerson devices in communication with one another. I played around with the inPerson device for a short amount of time and was impressed with the overall quality of the audio/video. Creative even allowed us to contact another Creative employee in Northern California via inPerson and I have to admit – it was pretty neat to see the whole thing in action.

Right now, inPerson is geared towards businesses who want a cheaper alternative to common video conferencing solutions out there. Each inPerson device can be purchased for $519.99 at Creative’s website (which includes one year of free service by Broadxent). I don’t see this as a consumer ready device quite yet – especially since you have to pay subscription fees to actually use the device with other inPerson users. However, it’s still nice to see Creative come out with innovative new products that take a new spin on existing markets.

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Technorati Tags: Creative, inPerson, video conferencing, CES 2008