Panasonic Communications Co., Ltd. (PCC), a subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., has teamed up with Skype, the global Internet communications company, to develop Panasonic Internet calling products.
Panasonic’s future Skype compatible products will give consumers access to Skype services including, SkypeOut, SkypeIn and Skype Voicemail using a cordless phone and a computer running Skype. Consumers can take their cordless phones with them anywhere in their homes and receive incoming calls from either a traditional landline or Skype. The cordless phone will be able to automatically identify and switch between Skype and traditional incoming calls.
This collaboration with Skype will take Internet calling beyond early adopters, making it the preferred means of calling for a broader market, said Frank Lasorsa, vice president, product and marketing, communications division, Panasonic.
As its initial offering, Panasonic plans to launch a Skype compatible cordless telephone product that will enable select Panasonic cordless telephones to interface directly with Skype. With the new product, consumers will be able to make and receive Skype and traditional calls using the same Panasonic cordless phone.
Skype is used by people in almost every country around the world, and Skyping has become a global phenomenon. The latest version of the Skype software incorporates video and has further simplified the Skype interface, making it even easier for people to see and speak with their family, friends and colleagues.
Our collaboration with major consumer electronics brands like Panasonic enables the expansion of Skype services beyond the desktop, and helps us to meet the needs of our growing consumer base.
This alliance with Panasonic marks another milestone in the growing ecosystem of Skype compatible products, said James Bilefield, vice president of business development for Skype.