TV puts callers in the picture Panasonic will be the first to allow householders to make Skype internet-connected video calls from their TV. AUSTRALIANS will soon be able to leave video phone answering machine messages for each other on their big-screen TV. Panasonic announced it would be the first manufacturer to allow video messages to be left via Skype on your TV. They will be able to leave a visual calling card if no one is home. Users would also be able to record their own video for callers to see when they are absent. The news comes as Microsoft announced moves to buy the Skype service, used by more than 600 million people worldwide to make free or low-cost phone calls over the internet. While the new video message service can be used in conjunction with any big-screen TV and ad-on camera, users will require a connected Panasonic Blu Ray player, recorder or home theatre system to make it work and store messages. Panasonic's director for consumer electronics Paul Reid said this would enable users to record a personalised voice or video message on to the device's hard drive or an inserted SD flash memory card which played automatically when a call couldn't be answered. "Incoming callers can record video messages which can be watched when the user returns home," he said. Panasonic spokeswoman Sophie Barton said leaving a "videomail" message was a personal experience. "You can leave whatever outgoing message you want, which is kind of cool, particularly if you are regularly communicating with people overseas via Skype," she said.