Logitech & Skype Team up on "HQ" Video Conferencing

Logitech & Skype have ganged up on MS' Unified Communications initiative. Their first step is bumping up the resolution of the video from the current 320 x 240 (QVGA) to 640 x 480 (VGA). The HQ mode introduced in Skype 3.6 is only intended for the most recent Logitech USB webcams, such as the QuickCam Pro 9000, QuickCam Pro for Notebooks and QuickCam Orbit AF. All three cameras share the same 2-megapixel Carl Zeiss auto-focus lens and RightSound echo canceling technology.

To enable HQ VGA conferencing, you will need at least a 2Ghz dual-core CPU, 1GB RAM, a minimum of 384Kbits/s Internet bandwidth, and of course, one of the aforementioned Logitech webcams. Skype argues this is about value for money, not just an impressive way to show off technology. I think they are implying the $3000 MS' 300-degree RoundTable video conferencing phone.