Microsoft Japan outlines Xbox Video Chat launch

TOKYO--As previously announced at E3, Microsoft will launch its Xbox Video Chat services in Japan. Today Microsoft Japan's Xbox marketing director, Takashi Sensui, held a press conference to give further details about the service and its debut later this year.

Xbox Video Chat will let up to five users communicate with each other on a TV screen simultaneously. The Xbox Video Chat kit, which will retail for 6,800 yen ($62), comes with a small video camera, the Xbox voice communicator, the Xbox Video Chat Disc, and an Xbox Live starter kit with 12 free months of Xbox Live.

The Xbox Video Chat comes with a number of features to spice up its communication functions, including sound effects, visual effects, voice alteration, and the ability to vibrate the other participants' controllers remotely. The Xbox Video Chat also comes with 40 preinstalled background music tracks and a function to turn the TV screen into a mirror temporarily, so players can groom themselves before joining a conversation.

At the press conference, Sensui explained that one reason Xbox Video Chat will be launching in Japan first is that the project was developed by the Japanese Xbox team. The main reason, though, was Japan's broadband infrastructure. Broadband connections have become the norm in Japanese households over the last two years, mainly due to the low price of connection fees. On average, a 51Mbps ADSL connection costs around 4,000 yen ($36) per month in Japan.