Skype For Windows 6.0

Skype for Desktop 6.0 focuses on improving integration with existing Microsoft Messenger and Facebook services.

New features include the ability to log in using either Microsoft or Facebook accounts before linking all three together. One reason for doing so is that Skype now supports IM conversations with Messenger contacts as well as other Skype and Facebook friends.

Skype 6 is a major upgrade and brings these changes:

- Sharing Instant Messages with friends with Messenger
- Improved Facebook integration
- Sign in with a Microsoft or Facebook account.
- Link Microsoft and Facebook accounts to a Skype account.
- Updated visual design.
- Removal of the online user count.
- Display previously created profile pictures.
- Improved telemetry.

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Skype 5 goes gold; brings Facebook integration and group video calls

According to Skype's very own blog, the long awaited Skype 5 has officially been released to the masses. Aimed at making you even more social, Skype 5 (Windows only, for now) brings a nice set of new feautres. Among them is the Facebook tab. Here's what the new Facebook integration brings to the table.

With Facebook integration, you can:

• see your Facebook News Feed in Skype
• post status updates that can be synced with your Skype mood message
• comment and like friends’ updates and wall posts
• call and SMS your Facebook friends on their mobile phones and landlines
• make a free Skype-to-Skype call if your Facebook friend is also a Skype contact

Skype 5 will also give you the ability to have group video calls. For now, Skype says this features is still in beta and will be free. However, as mentioned in the past, Skype fully intends to charge for the function down the road. In order to take full advantage of this feature, all users participating must be running Skype 5 or Skype 5 beta. For those on a Mac, Skype 5 beta is still the only option. Within group video calls, Skype has added "dynamic group video calling," which moves the person that's currently speaking into focus. This aims to make following a large conversation easier.

Other features include improved call quality, automatic call recovery, an improved call quality manager, which helps improve your overall call experience, and Skype Home, which acts as a dashboard for your overall Skype experience.

To download Skype 5 for Windows, visit Skype's website.

 

Skype now available on Android, carrier-free

After a long wait, the Android faithful now have access to Skype’s mobile telephony network via their mobile phones. The release, detailed on the company's blog, features the company’s staple of free Skype-to-Skype phone calls and inexpensive Skype-to-phone rates, over WiFi or 3G. It will import your full contact list from your existing account if you have already been using Skype from a PC or other mobile device. The app is compatible with Android 2.1 and above.

Back in May, there was a rumor going around that a carrier-free Android Skype app was imminent. Five months may not be exactly imminent, but at least they’re coming through on their promise. One feature, however, is notably missing: video chat. The PR from May heavily suggested that video would be a major part of their mobile expansion, and its absence from this release is definitely suspicious. Keep in mind that Skype has run into trouble recently with Fring regarding video chat use over AT&T 3G networks, and they have since backed out of Fring compatibility over excessive video chat problems. Fear of another run on bandwidth from the Android consumer base could be a possible reason for the hesitance. The blog post makes no mention of current or future video chat capability, but Android users all over certainly have their fingers crossed.

Skype getting new CEO from Cisco

Internet calling service Skype said Monday that Tony Bates, formerly a senior vice president and general manager of Cisco's enterprise, commercial and small business division, is replacing its current CEO, Josh Silverman.

THE EXPERIENCE: At Cisco, a massive, publicly traded company, Bates managed more than 12,500 employees — more than 12 times Skype's head count.

WHAT IT MEANS: Bates' background could help him lead Skype through an initial public offering — something Skype has already indicated it is planning, though it has not said when it could happen.

Facebook and Skype hook up

The most popular social network will be hooking up with the most popular communications platform on the web, according to reports.

Published on the ATD Boom Town blog, the word is Skype and Facebook are planning deep mutual integration of services. The 124 million active citizens of Skype-land will connect with the 500 million or so strong Facebook netizens and build on each app's services to stay in touch. You can see where this is going, of course: Facebook and Skype mutually reinforce each other's market share and strategies to support each other as new platforms gain popularity.

The integration will become apparent as of Skype 5.0, scheduled to be released in a few weeks, and it will include Facebook Connect. As a Skype user you will be able to call your Facebook 'friends' directly from the Skype interface. Whether this will extend to mobile platforms remains to be seen, but it would further simplify both companies' efforts when faced with new platforms.

Both outfits are rumoured to be preparing IPOs of their own. Actually Skype's IPO is more of a statement of fact, and this is sure to bolster share value right away and allow someone to rake in the €uros.

On a side note, Skype also signed a huge deal with Avaya, the enterprise communications giant which also launched a tablet device called the Avaya Flare, earlier this month.

Skype 4.2.0.187

Skype is software for calling other people on their computers or phones. Download Skype and start calling for free all over the world.

The calls have excellent sound quality and are highly secure with end-to-end encryption. You don't even need to configure your firewall or router or any other networking gear.

Additionally it doesn't just work on Windows. Skype is also for Mac OS X, Linux and PDAs using Pocket PC, with a native look and feel for each platform. Talking, sending instant messages or even file transfers work between different platforms like a charm.

• Skype calling - Skype has all the features of an ordinary phone so it's even easier to manage your calls.
• Video calling - see who you are talking to at the same time as speaking to them.
• Add Skype and SkypeOut contacts - Add contacts who use Skype and those who use ordinary phones so you can call more people.
• Organising groups - group contacts under certain names and share them with your contacts so they can talk to them too.
• Basic chat and emoticons - when it's not convenient to call, chat or Instant Message (IM) your contacts.
• Group chat - for when it's easier to chat or Instant Message (IM) all your friends at once.
• Profile settings - change how you appear to the world and let people know a bit about you.
• Conference calling - talk to more than one friend at a time.
• Import contacts - search your address book to find friends and family that already have a Skype name and start calling them for free.
• View Outlook contacts - view and call your Microsoft Outlook® contacts quickly and directly from your Skype contact list.
• Quickfilter and Speed-Dial - find Skype contacts, recent chats and SkypeOut contacts quickly and easily, then enter their Skype name to call them back quickly.

Download: Skype 4.2.0.187 | 18 MB (Freeware)
View: Changelog | Skype Features | Skype Website

Skype for Windows 5.0.0.123 Beta

kype is the next phenomenon from the people who brought you KaZaA. Just like KaZaA, this uses P2P (peer-to-peer) technology to connect you to other users - not to share files this time, but to talk for free with your friends. The technology is extremely advanced - but super simple to use. You'll be making perfect quality free phone calls to your friends in no time.

Additionally it doesn't just work on Windows. Skype is also for Mac OS X, Linux and PDAs using Pocket PC, with a native look and feel for each platform. Talking, sending instant messages or even file transfers work between different platforms like a charm.

• Skype calling - Skype has all the features of an ordinary phone so it's even easier to manage your calls.
• Video calling - see who you are talking to at the same time as speaking to them.
• Add Skype and SkypeOut contacts - Add contacts who use Skype and those who use ordinary phones so you can call more people.
• Organising groups - group contacts under certain names and share them with your contacts so they can talk to them too.
• Basic chat and emoticons - when it's not convenient to call, chat or Instant Message (IM) your contacts.
• Group chat - for when it's easier to chat or Instant Message (IM) all your friends at once.
• Profile settings - change how you appear to the world and let people know a bit about you.
• Conference calling - talk to more than one friend at a time.
• Import contacts - search your address book to find friends and family that already have a Skype name and start calling them for free.
• View Outlook contacts - view and call your Microsoft Outlook® contacts quickly and directly from your Skype contact list.
• Quickfilter and Speed-Dial - find Skype contacts, recent chats and SkypeOut contacts quickly and easily, then enter their Skype name to call them back quickly.

Download: Skype for Windows 5.0.0.123 Beta | 936 KB (Freeware)
View: Skype Website

Google and Skype set to face Indian crackdown

India's security agencies have turned their attention towards Skype and Google this week after a reprieve following high-profile talks with Blackberry maker Research in Motion about ways to allow Indian security forces to monitor data.

The security agencies have been struggling to monitor content shared via Gmail and Skype due to the high encryption used by the services. India's security agencies are concerned that services such as Skype are being used by terrorists to bypass traditional monitoring systems put in place for telephone calls. Skype and Google are both set to receive an ultimatum from the spies in New Delhi.

"The notices to these entities will be issued beginning Tuesday and all of them will be asked to comply with the directive or else they will have to close down their networks," a senior official told PTI news agency late Monday. India is also targeting "virtual private networks", which give workers secure access to their company networks when they are working away from the office.

The move follows similar threats to Research in Motion (RIM) who manufacture BlackBerry devices. A ban had been threatened for this week after security agencies requested greater access to RIM's networks and encrypted data services. RIM said it would support India's need for "lawful access" and India has delayed the ban for 60 days.

A spokesman for Google, Gaurav Bhaskar, told AFP the company was yet to receive a notice. "Once we receive it we will be in a better position to comment on what they are looking for," he said, adding that he expected the concern to be the Gmail service.

Skype Connect 1.0 officially launched

Skype today announced the official launch of Skype Connect 1.0 (formerly Skype for SIP). Previously available in beta, Skype Connect delivers a business solution that enables IP-enabled private branch exchange (PBX) or Unified Communications (UC) systems to connect to Skype.

By using Skype Connect, businesses can now make outbound calls from desktop phones to landlines and mobiles worldwide billed at Skype’s standard per-minute calling rates. It is al possible to Receive inbound calls from Skype connected users worldwide by placing Skype’s Click & Call buttons on their Web sites, or even receive calls from landlines or mobile phones in the corporate PBX using Skype’s online numbers that have been purchased separately.

Businesses will be able to manage Skype calls using existing PBX or UC systems’ features such as call routing, automatic call distribution, conferencing, auto-attendant, voicemail, call recording and logging.

“Since its inception, Skype has been used by many businesses wanting to reduce communications costs. In fact, based on internal research, in the first quarter of 2010, approximately 37% of Skype users reported that they use Skype for some business or business-related purposes,” said David Gurlé, VP and general manager of Skype for Business. “Our team’s goal is to empower businesses of all sizes and types with rich communications tools to unleash their productivity, while reducing their telecommunications costs. Following Skype Manager’s launch in May, we are very proud to add Skype Connect to our list of specially designed enterprise solutions. Skype Connect seeks to enable our customers to reduce their phone bills, while protecting their investment in existing telecommunications equipment.”

Companies using Skype Connect are charged a monthly channel fee of €4.95 or US$6.95 per line. This is based on the number of concurrent calls being made or received. Each channel allows for one inbound or one outbound call at any given time.

Calls to landlines and mobiles made using Skype Connect are billed at Skype’s standard calling rates worldwide. See here for Skype Connect pricing details.

Skype founders launch mobile subscription music service

Skype, Kazaa, and Joost creators Janus Friis with Niklas Zennström launched Rdio on Tuesday, aiming to offer an inexpensive way to provide unlimited streaming music from mobile phones. In addition, the service would allow users to save music to their device for offline listening.

The service costs $4.95 per month for desktop-only access, and $9.95 monthly for both desktop and mobile use. The company has about seven million songs in its database, and unlimited streaming. Users can select songs to be synced to their devices for online listening, or download copies of the song to keep at a cost of 99 cents per track.

Deals have been struck with the four major record labels -- EMI Music, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group -- and several independent outfits to bring content to the service.

Rdio uses Facebook and Twitter to discover and introduce users to the music their friends are listening to. This is where the service says it differentiates itself from its counterparts. "The social nature of Rdio means you can discover new songs every time you visit Rdio," CEO Drew Larner said.

Mobile versions of the software are available for Android, Blackberry, and iPhone.

Friis and Zennström's service has now come ahead of Spotify, whose launch here in the US is still up in the air. According to press reports, negotiations with record labels are still ongoing and it says that the service should go live by the end of this year.

That service allows for free listening to its catalog of music via its desktop app, however users would need to register for a premium account to use Spotify on mobile phones or download music for offline listening. The company currently only has licenses to operate in seven European countries.

Rdio is taking another track though, and that is through a completely fee-based service. Such a service seems to be more palatable at least here among the US record labels, which may be the reason why Rdio was able to beat Spotify to the market.

Skype’s Password Service Goes Haywire

Skype users across the world are reporting on a strange new problem with the service.

Some users have received messages during sessions telling them that their passwords have been changed. When they attempt to reset their passwords using Skype’s password token service, the service returns internal server errors on Skype’s site.

Users who’ve contacted Skype through other channels have reported that Skype Customer Service reps have indicated that their accounts were locked out for violations of Skype’s Etiquette Policy. However, some users have complained that they never violated these terms and were locked out anyways.

One user said, “my friend and I both got our accounts blocked at around the same time. We both have newer accounts, but we don’t talk about inappropriate materials which violate Skype’s End User Licensing Agreement. Yet, when we contacted Skype, we were told that we violated the EULA or something, which other people have seen in messages from Skype. They said my account had been blocked, but unblocked it while saying that if I was flagged for verification again, it would be blocked again.”

Based on a forum thread on Skype, it appears that this problem has been around for nearly two months. Users in the thread have complained about password issues since the beginning of June, and yet it seems that Skype has been unable to track down the root of the problem.

The problem seems to have become even more apparent in the last 24 hours, though. A wide range of users have complained about the issue on Twitter, with most believing that their accounts were hacked. However, some have talked to Skype and confirmed that the issue is indeed Skype’s fault.