Skype 2.5 (beta)

Skype has now registered over 100 million downloads, though at any given moment a mere four to seven million of them are online (Yikes!).

An entirely new feature Skype is testing with the 2.5 beta release is Skypecast (think of Skypecasts as moderated conference calls between friends or strangers who are talking about just about anything). From the skype.com home page under the "Share" tab you'll be able to see Skypecasts that are planned or underway and can immediately join (if you are a registered Skype user). [Image courtesy of Skype]

If you are the designated host of a Skypecast (usually the person that sets it up in the first place) you have control over who gets the microphone and can remove unruly participants if you deem it necessary or at least silence them (and everyone else if you want). [Image courtesy of Skype]

With version 2.5 beta, you can easily get at the numbers for all your Outlook contacts from within Skype, making SkypeOut calling a lot easier.

Those new to Skype won't necessarily know to appreciate it, but the registration process has been simplified from three steps to one.

A new feature of version 2.5 is a call quality monitor. It will make suggestions, telling you, for instance, to restart your call if it determines you don't currently have enough bandwidth, warning you conditions aren't good for a file transfer, or even letting you know that your connection might not be optimal for a SkypeOut-to-mobile phone call.

Sharing groups you've created with other Skype users is simple (think "making it easier selling your mom and dad on using Skype").

It's now easy to send a one-way SMS message via SkypeOut to just about any mobile phone that will support that service.

You can send an SMS message of up to 160 characters and the cost to you and your SkypeOut account will vary anywhere from about 2 cents to 25 cents per message, depending on both you and the receiver's location. The Skype application provides you a best-guess estimate of the cost in the message window prior to sending the message.

With today's announcements there are now 200 Skype-certified devices from many different manufacturers available that will work on the service.

Today's (May 3, 2006) announcements include the three new Skype-certified products pictured here. [Image courtesy of Skype]