Logitech TV Cam for Skype adds 720p video calls to Panasonic HDTVs

Logitech has outed its latest webcam, the Logitech TV Cam for Skype, a $149.99 peripheral that turns your Skype-supporting HDTV into a video conferencing system. Initially only supporting certain Panasonic 2011 sets, Logitech says it is working with other TV manufacturers to broaden support for the 720p HD video camera.

The TV Cam has a 78-degree wide-angle lens, Carl Zeiss optics and auto-focus. Logitech reckons the webcam can focus on objects as close as 7cm away. There are dual-microphones with automatic noise reduction, along with echo cancellation and an 11m cable in all – the regular 5m and a bundled 6m USB extension.

If this all sounds familiar, it's because Logitech already offers a very similar – and outwardly pretty much identical – webcam for the Revue Google TV box. That's based on the C910 HD webcam. The new TV Cam will be available this month.