Microsoft To Enter Webcam Business

Smile - you're on a LifeCam! Microsoft plans to roll out its own webcams, tied tightly to Windows Live Messenger and MSN Spaces.

Microsoft’s hardware group announced today that it’s getting into the webcam business with the Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 and VX-6000, the first in a line of LifeCam products the company is planning. Microsoft says the tiny cameras are designed to offer superior audio and video quality for enhancing video calls and even enabling one-touch video blogging. And, of course, Microsoft is tying the cameras tightly to its own Windows Live Messenger and MSN Spaces service offerings.

“Each month, people spend more than 1 billion minutes in Windows Live video conversations. It’s clear that consumers are now embracing technologies that support relationship-centered digital communications,” said Tom Gibbons, Microsoft’s vice president of the Consumer Productivity Experiences Group. “Microsoft Hardware and Windows Live are defining that movement with a new approach to integrated products and services that give consumers the power to have a richer digital communications experience and make everyday events extraordinary.”

Both LifeCams offer noise-cancelling microphones to boost audio quality without requiring users to wear headsets or use additional microphones to conduct good-quality video calls. Both cameras will also feature Video Effects, whereby users can ass in images of twinkling stars, falling snow, and other creative inserts to personalize their video conversations. The cameras can attach securely to almost any screen or monitor via a Universal Attachment Base.

The LifeCam VX-3000 offers a 1.3 megapixel resolution (interpolated) still images and VGA (640 by 480) video capture. The LifeCam VX-6000 will offer 5 megapixel still image capture (interpolated) and 1.3 megapixel video capture with a built-in 3x digital zoom and a 71° viewing angle, so up to three people can crowd into frame.

Both cameras integrate with Windows Live Messenger, featuring a Windows Live Call button on the top of the webcam which simplifies the process of placing a video call. With one touch, users can summon up the Buddy Picker to bring up a list of video buddies who are currently online. Additionally, the Windows Life Messenger window will feature a LifeCam dashboard enabling users to pan, tilt, and zoom the camera without having to fuss with software outside Windows Live Messenger. Users of Windows Live Spaces (er, MSN Spaces?) will be able to post High Definition LifeCam pictures to their blogs with a single click in the LifeCam window.

The new LifeCams should be available in August 2006 at about $50 for the VX-3000 and $100 for the VX-6000. Microsoft says additional LifeCams will be introduced in September 2006.