Preview: With the current Mac version of Skype still at 2.8, it's nice to see a Mac version at the level of its Windows counterpart in the offing. The new beta adds group video chat capability, a redesigned user interface, better search capabilities, offline instant messages, and more personalized contact profiles. While the beta doesn't quite bring the Mac version up to the Windows version in capability, design, and stability, it's a good start.

For those unfamiliar with all Skype offers, it's basically a Swiss army knife of communication: In addition to VoIP, video calling, and conference calls between computers, the service lets users make calls to regular phones and cell phones from their computers for a low per-minute charge. It also offers SMS and instant messaging, file transfer, and desktop screen sharing. For an extra cost, you can get an online number for regular phones to call your PC or Skype IP phone, and the company offers public Wi-Fi access at hotspots, and a To Go number is basically the same as a phone card. In addition to what Skype itself offers, a plug-in ecosystem adds things like call recording, games, and faxing.

New Interface
The new interface starts right from the sign-in window, which is horizontal and more festive than the previous vertical one, but otherwise contains all the same elements. You then get to a larger window than the previous version's tall, narrow contact list. The new wide one shows your contacts in the center Skype for Windows has long had the option for a large window that combines contacts, video, and instant messaging, and when that first launched, users rebelled against the amount of screen space required by the app, forcing the company to offer a Compact view with a smaller, separate contact list. Comments on the blog post about the new Mac version seem to be taking a similar turn.

Unfortunately, the Mac beta doesn't offer the compact view that splits the buddy list from the communication window. Another area where I find it less usable than the Windows version is in instant messaging while you're in a video call. On the Mac beta, there's no visual clue that you have to drag up the bottom of the video window to reveal a hidden area for IM below. When a coworker sent me a message, I couldn't see it and had no notification it was sent unless I found the hidden area. On the plus side for instant messaging, though, is offline capability, which gives you a handy way to leave notes your friend will see next time they log on.

The redesign sports some new transparent black windows that look like Snow Leopard system elements like the system menus that pop up from the dock. These include the call control bar stays on top of other application windows and allows users to hang up, mute, and more. A new floating contact monitor also has this look and shows which of your contacts are online and lets you initiate a call. The newly designed number dial pad also shares this look and makes the SMS capability more prominent.

You can now search chat content as well as just for contacts. A couple more new conveniences are that you can now easily rejoin calls if they drop because of connection interruptions, and in conference calls, a "push to talk" feature lets you stay muted till you have something to say.

New user profiles let you personalize your contacts: you can combine a contact's Skype entry with his landline or mobile number, so that you don't have multiple entries for the same contact and can start any mode of contact from the same profile. Also new for contacts is that you can add them from your Mac contacts directly.

Group Video Calls
Next I tested the marquee feature—group video chat. To use this all participants must be using version 5, either Mac or Windows. Group video calling is in beta and available as a 28-day trial before you have to sign up for a premium service level. The two other computers being used in the test both had high-definition webcams, and the picture was smooth and clear, as was the voice. This was one instance where the Mac beta actually a slicker presentation than the PC, with a 3D-ish Cover Flow look.

But in a lot of respects the Skype 5 for Mac beta naturally lacks some of the polish of its released Windows counterpart, aside from the hidden IM window mentioned above. For example, when adding people to a group video call, the Windows version presents a clear Group button that spins around to a list of potential contacts to add. The unlabeled person-with-a-plus-sign icon in the Mac version just adds a blank line for searching for contacts you want to add. You kind of have to figure the interface out: It doesn't clearly direct you.

And in my testing, another beta characteristic raised its ugly head: crashes. A couple of times when I tried to initiate a video call the app shut down unexpectedly. And almost every time a call connected, a stuttering sound ringed in the first couple of seconds. And one feature completely lacking from this Mac beta is the Facebook window offered by the Windows version of the VOIP software.

Despite these glitches and loose ends in the user interface, I'm glad to see Skype starting to bring the Mac client up to the Windows one's level of features and capabilities. When the product comes out of beta, look for a full review here to replace this preview. Meanwhile, if you're still daring enough, you can get ahold of the beta for yourself at Skype's Mac beta download page.

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