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Skype 5.0 - Facebook integration, 10x videoconferencing
October 15, 2010 | Author: Adam Levine
The new version Skype 5.0 for Windows is already available for download. It contains two super-features - Facebook integration and group videochat for 10 participants. Specifically for Facebook integration the Skype interface has been revamped - homepage with contact's status log and tabs has appeared. You can add Facebook as one of these tabs. It will display a list of all your Facebook-friends and you can click-to-call them via free videochat (if they have skype in Facebook contacts) or via SkypeOut. In addition, you can switch to the News Feed view and add posts and comments to Facebook right from your Skype. Unfortunately, Skype does not allow to communicate through Facebook-chat. What will be the result of combining half-billion Facebook user-base with the half-billion Skype user-base - we can only guess.
It's very interesting that a group videochat for 10 persons is still free. As you know, Skype had previously announced that it will be a paid feature, and remain free only during the beta-period. Beta testing is over and the Skype spokes-person dropped the phrase "available for free-trial", the group videochat is still free. Probably because of the recent Skype CEO change, nobody is sure whether this feature will be paid or not. Group videochat now includes a “dynamic view” option that automatically positions the person speaking in the larger video window.
In addition, the new version provides improved search and contact list (with contact avatars) and the automatic call-renewal feature that allows users to quickly re-connect if conversation was interrupted due to problems with Internet connection.
See also: Top 10 VoIP services
