TV has evolved into a social experience. Realizing the same, Comcast (News - Alert) Corporation has entered into a strategic partnership with Skype to bring new HD Video Calling experience to the television.

This arrangement will help Comcast customers to make and receive Skype (News - Alert) video calls from their television, whether their friends and family use Skype on their home TVs, PCs, compatible smartphones or tablets.

Customers will also be able to experience widescreen HD video calling that is immersive and natural. Sending instant messages via Skype on a television while watching their favorite TV show at the same time, will now be easy with this arrangement.

 Accepting incoming calls during a TV show with the help of Caller ID will also be possible for Comcast customers.

In a press release, Tony Bates (News - Alert), CEO, Skype, said, “We are pleased to announce this partnership with Comcast. By combining Comcast’s broad living room reach with Skype’s innovative communications platform and worldwide community of users, we can bring video calling into the heart of the home allowing people to share life’s experiences both big and small.”

Skype will allow Comcast customers to share in the excitement of a big game, a birthday party or holiday, a bedtime story, or a casual conversation with loved ones. They can also communicate with hundreds of millions of Skype users across the globe.

“Our unique relationship with Skype not only will change how our customers interact with their TV, but also will create new and meaningful ways to bring our customers closer to the people they care about,” said Neil Smith, President, Comcast Cable.

The partnership between Comcast and Skype will help Comcast customers import friends to their address book from their Facebook (News - Alert), Outlook, Gmail and smartphone contact lists, find them on Skype and see when contacts are online and available to talk.

This service will be delivered on the Comcast customer’s HDTV through an adaptor box, a high-quality video camera, and a specially designed remote control.

In related news, Comcast Corp., the country's largest cable company plans to bring Skype calls to TV sets later this year.