Sometimes 'Place Shifting' means more than watching your TV from other places than your living room.  Skype video conferencing is one of those 'other' place shifting things we can do these days.

Most people have heard of or are familiar with Skype. It is a program that allows you to video conference from your computer or mobile device with someone else located remotely. All that is needed is a compatible computer or mobile device and a web camera to 'Skype' with someone.

If you have never tried it Skype works pretty good in most cases.

Telylabs has just announced that they are going to take 'Skypeing' to the next level.  They are going to bring the Skype video calling experience into the living room with their new Tely HD product.

They say….

Tely will connect Skype users from their living rooms – in lifelike HD – to any Skype-enabled device. Tely takes Skype's signature features and layers in additional functionality between two telyHD devices like an HD signal and video voicemail. With telyHD, Skype users will be able to connect from their living rooms to smartphones, laptops, desktops and any Skype device – they can even stream photos to other Skype users on the call. Imagine sitting on your couch and talking to your parents from across the country as if they're in the next room – that's a powerful use of Skype technology.

This all sounds great but what does it really mean?

Tely Labs has not posted many public details but here is what we have been able to determine.

• They have stated that they will have a new device called the TelyHD  this fall.
• This device will be something that you can connect to your TV and allow you to use Skype to video conference directly from your TV.  You will not need to use a computer or other device to do so.
• Tely Labs is using the SkypeKit developer program to integrate Skype into their device.

In addition, according to this article  at the The National Cable & Telecommunications Association Cable Show last month in Chicago,Sreekanth Ravi, of Tely Labs, showed off the  device.
They state in the article that device, which rests atop a TV, runs on Google's Android operating system and has a built-in webcam and microphone.
If it does run on Android I can see where it not only could have mass public appeal but also the product may be able to do more than just Skype. Assuming you're an advanced Android users and are  a little  on the adventurous side there may be other features you can enjoy on it.

We haven't seen any pictures or other specifications on their website but you can sign-up to be notified when more information is available. You can also sign up for their Beta testing program and if selected you may be one of the first to use it in person.

The Tely HD device sounds like it would make it easier for friends and family to chat live without having to gather around a small screen.  It also could resolve some business video conferencing issues.

What do you think? Is this something that you would enjoy?
Also check out the Tely User Community. Its just getting started but that is where you will find the trips, tips and hacks for the Tely HD!
http://tely.placesitting.com/