Skype founders claim: "Venice is live (sort of)…"

A beta version of The Venice Project launched yesterday. It is the Internet TV start-up from Kazaa and Skype founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis.

"The Venice Project" is expected to be launched next year and yes it will have plugins for IM communications (initially by the screen shots, it includes Jabber and G-Talk IM conectivity).

"The promise is still not fully realized, but we’ve come a long way, and – Venice is looking pretty darn cool!

We set out to try to merge the best of TV and the best of the Internet and I think we have just taken a big step on a long journey. For a few months we have been quietly testing with a small circle of people. Now, we’re going to expand that circle – with more and more people getting invited. If you want to take it for a spin, get an invitation from an existing beta tester."

More at Janusfriis.net
The Venice Project Launches In Private Beta [TechCrunch]
Venice is live (sort of)…
More at Reuters [UK - updated 12/192006]