14 DAY TRIAL // Skype is becoming a much more important product for Microsoft, so the tech giant is trying to bring forward new innovative features that would greatly improve the overall success of the service.
Now it appears that Microsoft is preparing a 3D video calling option for Skype that would be specifically aimed at workers who can’t travel to meetings, but still need to be there in person.
BBC is reporting that such technology has already been developed, but there’s still no word on whether the feature could be released for consumers in the near future or not.
"We've done work in the labs looking at the capability of 3D-screens and 3D-capture," said Microsoft's corporate vice-president for Skype, Mark Gillett. "We've seen a lot of progress in screens and a lot of people now buy TVs and computer monitors that are capable of delivering a 3D image.”
The problem with this feature is that the devices it’s based on are still missing from the market, so Microsoft still needs to wait a little bit longer before releasing it to the market.
“But the capture devices are not yet there. As we work with that kind of technology you have to add multiple cameras to your computer, precisely calibrate them and point them at the right angle,” Gillett continued.
“We have it in the lab, we know how to make it work and we're looking at the ecosystem of devices and their capability to support it in order to make a decision when we might think about bringing something like that to market.”
And still, Microsoft is well aware of the fact that 3D technology needs more time to succeed, as people are still reluctant to buying such technology. Glasses have clearly been a setback for 3D products, but since they aren’t needed anymore, more users might actually purchase this kind of devices, Gillett explained.
“You'll see much more penetration of 3D on TVs, on computers and ultimately in smartphones, probably, ahead of seeing it for sending a video call.”