Guest blogger and RIM Product Manager Vivek Gupta couldn’t wait to tell everyone about the new Video Chat features in the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 upgrade. Take it away, Vivek!

Now that the upgrade to the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet – BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 – is here, I wanted to give you a sneak preview of some of the great new features that are available in the updated Video Chat! We think you’ll agree, whether for work or play, it’s an easy and fun way to connect with people.

Simply put, Video Chat on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet allows you to make and take video calls with your friends, family, and colleagues who also have a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. (Note: Both users of the Video Chat feature must be connected to the Internet for a chat to be enabled.) With just one click, you’ll be able to have virtual face-to-face conversations using the HD video cameras and stunning high-resolution screen on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

Let’s look at the top new features and improvements in the Video Chat upgrade:

Visually Appealing and Organized

The Video Chat user interface takes a cue from the new email, calendar and contact apps. I’m really excited to have you try the updated version of Video Chat, because I think it’s a compelling user experience and is designed to improve visual interaction between contacts using the app on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

Experience Video Chat on the Large Screen

I love the new Presenter Mode because it is designed to take advantage of the multitasking capabilities made possible by this new powerful OS. For example, while you’re busy using the upgraded Video Chat, you could simultaneously click over and view your pictures, write notes, browse the web or play a game on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. Presenter Mode is also a big convenience for business users. For example, let’s say you’re in a meeting room with a few people and you’re running a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet video chat with a colleague in a remote location. With Presenter Mode, you can project this video chat onto a big screen for better viewing, and then message or share slides and spreadsheets with the people in your conference room without disrupting the video chat.

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Contact Integration

One of the key differentiating features of the new Video Chat for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is that it now automatically discovers which of your contacts are Video Chat “capable” and displays their “availability” to Video Chat – no guesses and disappointments! You can view, edit, and create new contacts for Video Chat directly in the Contacts application or in Video Chat application itself. Plus, with the new capabilities in BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, you can conveniently initiate a Video Chat directly from the Contacts application, while viewing the contact’s information details.

As mentioned, these new features for Video Chat are available now in the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 software update! Please comment and let us know who’ll be the first person you call using the new Video Chat for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

More about BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0

1. BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 is here!
2. Help Blog: How to download and update to BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 and manage the new home screen
3. Help Blog: Getting Started with Email, Contacts and Calendar in BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0
4. Help Blog: Getting Started with Video Chat in BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0
5. BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 Reviews from CES
6. CES 2012: BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 Communicates [Video]