Hewlett-Packard Introduces SkyRoom Videoconferencing Suite [Live Videoconferencing for Up to Four People Simultaneously, Share Rich Media Content, Sub-100ms Latency]

There is something to be said for videoconferencing. It’s cheap compared to the alternative of sending groups of people from all over the world to one place for a meeting, it’s relatively easy to do, and anything that can save me from having to go through the agonizing peril that often accompanies air travel I am all for. OK, that last one was more of a personal thing, but still, it gets a vote for videoconferencing. Into what has been a world dominated by the likes of WebEX and GoToMeeting, HP has decided to land and they’re bringing the big guns with their new SkyRoom videoconferencing software.

HP announced today that they will formally enter the videoconferencing arena with a piece of software it has dubbed SkyRoom (sounds like a frequent flyer perk to me). What’s so special about HP SkyRoom? Well, for starters it is based on the same technology that NASA used when it was chatting back and forth with the Mars lander. That should be enough, shouldn’t it? Joining the never-ending search for the holy grail of videoconferencing, zero latency communication amongst multiple persons, HP claims to have gotten as close as anyone thus far.

As long as the minimum system requirements are met (Core 2 Duo 2.33-GHz or equivalent processor with 2GB RAM, a webcam and Microsoft Windows® XP or Vista®) HP SkyRoom promises simultaneous live interaction between up to four people with near zero – more like 100ms, actually – latency. This means less waiting for the screens to refresh and less of those creepy, Max Headroom-like jumpy video feeds.

HP SkyRoom supports both 2D and 3D graphics as well as full-motion video and multiple displays. So how is HP able to obtain near-zero delay in its transmissions with SkyRoom? The main reason is that the software doesn’t send an entire screenshot over the wire like some others we know. Instead, it transmits only those bits of information that have changed on the screen. Fewer redundant bits means less latency. Another cool feature of SkyRoom is the software’s ability to both compress and encrypt the data before it sends it on its way.

HP SkyRoom is earmarked with an MSRP of $149 and it will come preloaded on all HP Z800, Z600, Z400 and xw4600 workstations. It will also come loaded as a 90-day trial on certain HP business desktops and notebooks. Along with the SkyRoom software, HP is toting a hardware bundle as well.  The HP SkyRoom Standard Accessory Kit, which is set to retail for around $120, comes with a high-resolution webcam and a set of headphones or speakers. Still want more info? Head on over to www.hp.com/go/hpskyroom.