While Skype is not new, the service which includes instant messaging, voice and video calling is connecting people in new ways. Skype 5.0 was recently released for Windows (no word yet on when the upgrade will be available for Mac and Linux except “soon”) sporting a streamlined design with a tab specifically for Facebook in the home section.
Rick Osterloh, Skype's head of consumer product said, "The essence of the Skype experience is communicating with the people you care about, whether that's your friend who lives on the other side of town or your mom, who lives on the other side of the world." By integrating Facebook Skype hopes to take communication to the next level. New Facebook features in Skype include:
- Facebook News Feed
- Facebook Phonebook with one click calling
- Ability to call and add Facebook friends that aren’t already Skype contacts
Facebook developer network director Ethan Beard said, "We're working with companies such as Skype to make it easy to find your friends anytime you want to connect." This is in addition to the Facebook/Bing integration that will allow users to search Facebook friends’ posts and info through the search engine.
As cool as adding Facebook is, it’s just one of the remarkable upgrades Skype 5.0 offers. On top of that there is:
- 10-way group video calling
- Enhanced contact lists
- Emphasis on profiles
- A modified user experience
Video calling will have a “dynamic view” option which enlarges the image of whoever is talking. It will also allow for auto recovery of video and voice within seconds if a call is dropped. Contact lists have bigger and better pictures and users are encouraged to flesh out their profiles for added search results and a better overall experience.
Already this year Osterloh estimates users spend an average of 520 million minutes on Skype daily, 40 percent of which is spent on video calling. With the new features and redesigned dashboard these numbers will surely rise and Skype will help bridge the location gap between family and friends across the globe.
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By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer, business owner, and work-from-home mom.
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