Xbox Live and Windows Live Messenger are about to collide. But hopefully in a friendly and personal way. Microsoft just announced a new video chat service called Video Kinect. It’s an extension of its brand new Kinect voice- and motion-sensing control system.

We’re talking more than just video calling. You’ll be able to watch movies, news, sports and more with whoever you’re chatting with. Another interesting new feature is a skeleton-tracking tech that makes the Kinect unit follow users as they move around the room. Sounds creepy, but at least it is connecting you with your friends.

I usually only have to travel once or so each year for work. Typically, it’s for CES in January and while it’s nice to be away from things for a while, my kids get restless. I usually end up doing some video calls with them from my computer so I can see what they are up to. The problem is that video calls over IM applications can be hard to set up.

Logitech has announced a new software platform today called Vid that makes it easy to initiate video calls to and from anyone using a Logitech webcam. The software itself is free and Logitech claims that you can set up the software and initiate calls easier than using an IM application.

Skype was among the first free software products to allow users to make and receive free phone calls over the Internet from other Skype users. As the product matured, it added the ability to be able to make calls to non-Skype users at low per minute charges compared to cellular or long distance plans.

Skype announced this week that its latest software version 4.0 is now available for download. The new version offers face-to-face video calling that makes it easier to start video calls and allows calls to be viewed full screen.