3D video calls in Skype’s pipeline

Skype is developing 3D video calls which could eventually allow workers to send “body doubles” to meetings.

The firm is working on technology for the service, but it may be several years before it reaches homes and offices.

Mark Gillett, corporate vice-president for Skype, said teams have been working with state-of-the-art tools that capture 3D footage.

“We have it in the lab, we know how to make it work and we’re looking at the ecosystem of devices and their capability to support it in order to make a decision when we might think about bringing something like that to market,” he said.

Skype, which is owned by Microsoft, marks its 10th anniversary today.

Meanwhile, the BBC’s head of 3D announced last month that there were no further plans to use the technology following a two-year trial.

Only around half of the homes which could watch the televised London 2012 Olympics in 3D did so.