Video chats using Skype, eBay Inc.’s popular Internet telephone service, are about to become sharper and more lifelike, at least for those who have high-end new computers and webcams.

Logitech International SA released driver software Tuesday for three webcams that allows them to connect Skype chatters at a resolution of 640 by 480 pixels, the same resolution as a DVD.

Frame rates of up to 30 pictures per second, the standard for TV broadcasts, are possible with the cameras. That’s up from around 15 frames per second in typical Web chats and should cut down on jerkiness and blurring of moving subjects, the companies said.

Getting the maximum image quality requires the latest, “beta” version of Skype’s software and computers with the latest dual-core processors on both ends. The processors are needed to compress the video signal to fit it on a standard broadband Internet connection, then decompress it on the other end.

The applicable cameras are the $99 Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 and QuickCam Pro for Notebooks, and the $129 QuickCam Orbit AF. The cameras came out this summer.