Skype Unveils Version 2.5
Posted by Harry McCracken | Tuesday, May 02, 2006 9:00 PM PT
Skype, the free Internet voice-call software that's had a real impact on how the world communicates, is getting an update to version 2.5. A beta version of is due for release on Wednesday at
the Skype site; I didn't get an advance look at it. But judging from what Skype's Saul Klein told me about its new features, it sounds like a reasonably meaty upgrade. (For now, by the way, this is a Windows-only release; users of Skype's Mac and Linux clients will have to sit tight.)
Highlights:
* Easier international dialing to landlines and cell phones (you tell Skype what country you're calling, rather than having to remember country codes).
* Easier payment (from within the software) for Skype's various fee-based services.
* Sharing of contact groups (sounds handy for coworkers, friends, or family who have mutual contacts).
* The ability to send SMS messages from within Skype.
* Support for viewing and calling Outlook contacts within Skype.
* Audio troubleshooting via a call quality analyzer that examines your sound and suggests fixes if it's deemed to be subpar.
With Skype's still-relatively-new
status as a division of eBay, you might have wondered whether this upgrade would feature direct evidence of the software's relationship with the auction site--say, the ability to call someone based on his or her eBay member name. Not this time around, apparently, although you can pay for fee-based services via eBay's PayPal.
Skype has also offically announced "Skypecasts"--essentially voice-based chat rooms that can hold up to 100 people. A directory of them is
available here.
Skype says it has 100 million registered users, with another 200,000 signing up every day. Are you among them?
Thats very interesting and excellent update by skype team...keep it up
Looking forward to the audio trouble shooting, too many drop outs using it last night
How about fewer dropped connections?
Wish they included conference calling for businesses needing more than 5 user participants!
Wish they made buying a Skype-In number easier...I've tried to give them my money THREE TIMES and still can't get it to work. We've also had trouble topping off our Skype Out accounts. We love the free service, but Skype needs to figure out how to accept money and provide the paid services they offer!
I have no need for Skype because of my hearing impairement. For calling using my computer keyboard, I use NexTalk.net and My IP-Relay via AOL Instant Messenger.
Those relay calls are weird, to someone on the receiving end. I used to work in a job where I got them all the time. The first time I had one I had no idea what was going on.
When someone calls you through a relay service, it's because they use a TTY (teletypewriter) machine, those who are deaf or hard of hearing. You should treat a relay service as if it were an actual person.
as a punctual payer of exorbitant phone bills over the last couple of years, skype is the best thing that has happened to me since slice bread..and the computer of course...
I get heaps of 'dropped calls' on this new version... each one after only 20-30secs of talk time. I'm starting to wonder if they monitor content... even though they say they don't. Will reserve judgement until I find out WHY all the calls are getting droppd.