Introducing Skype 3.0 Beta for Windows
By
Jaanus on November 8, 2006 in Skype Beta and new releases.
Skype 3.0 Beta for Windows is now available. We recommend it only for experienced users, as we continue to work on it. Download here, and see this page to find out how you can give us feedback to improve it.
This will be a major milestone release, comparable in its significance perhaps to Skype video calling that came out about a year ago. Nevermind all the bugfixes and tiny improvements – lots of those too, but we’re also talking some major new things in this release. And here’s what those are.
New look and feel
This is the first thing that you’ll notice when you first install and run Skype 3.0 beta, and the first major update to Skype’s interface on Windows in a long time. Read more about the new look and feel in this post.
Public chats
Aside from the new interface, Public Chats are one of the most significant new features in this release. So significant, in fact, that they too deserve their own blogpost. Read more about public chats and other chat improvements.
Browser extensions
Skype now has browser extensions for Internet Explorer and Firefox. You can choose at install time if you want to install these or not. They automatically convert phone numbers on web pages into Skype links. You can simply click them and Skype starts a SkypeOut call to that number.
Sound settings wizard
It’s now easier to work with sound devices while you’re in a call. More here.
Extras
Want to do more in Skype like play games, share your desktop on calls and use a whiteboard to make notes on Skype calls? Read more about Extras here.
Skypecasts controls
In Skype 3.0, you can browse the current Skypecasts straight in Skype on the Live tab. When you decide to join or host one, the Skypecast itself will run within a separate tab where you have all the host or participant controls to ask for mike, see who’s the host and do all those other things you need to do in a Skypecast. No more clunky popup browser windows 
At the same time as we release Skype 3.0 Beta, Skypecasts go from a preview state into a beta state.
Enterprise compatibility
We’ve gotten a lot of input about how to make Skype more enterprise-friendly, and we have incorporated many of the ideas into Skype 3.0 in the form of our improved enterprise compatibility, easier installation and security features. We will post more information about this as the beta progresses.
UPDATE: the new version of Skype Guide for Network Administrators is now available from our security resource center. It is the essential resource for any IT administrator considering the benefits and risks of Skype in a corporate setting, now updated for Skype 3.0 beta.
If you’re an experienced user and want to try out Skype 3.0 beta now, download it here. See also this page for information about how to report bugs and give us feedback.
Comments
AND WE ARE 8 MILLION USERS ONLINE!!!
MY COUNTER COUNTS 8,008,227 USERS!!!
COME ON!
Estetica Jolie centro estetico a Lugo (RA)
http://www.esteticajolie.it
esteticajolie | Wednesday, Nov 8
And this version again requires admin priviliges on Vista. Is it totally impossible for you to try to be even the slightest bit Vista compatible? The 2.6 beta had this problem and there you fixed it. Now it back in *newer* beta!
I like Skype 3, but I'll have to go back to 2. until you fix this.
qtrans_asbjoern | Wednesday, Nov 8
all these new features are in vein if you don't have audio recording of Skype calls. Podcasting is almost 3 years old and you still don't have this feature what forces people like Engadget folks to use other VoIP software like Gizmo Project! Please add audio recording of Skype calls ASAP!
msmobiles | Thursday, Nov 9
When we'll see this for Linux? =)
Don't tell me that it's not possible!
v1ncent.x | Thursday, Nov 9
In Linux we still are using version 1.3 with no sms, no videconference, etc. It seems nobody at Skype is working on GNU/Linux version.
ramon.parada | Thursday, Nov 9
For OS X any time soon? Please?
trib22 | Thursday, Nov 9
ramon.parada:
I know! =(... And i don't understand why no one is making really good programs (like Skype) for Linux - Because is one of the sistems of the future, including MAC OS...
If we don't change, no one it will do it for us.
v1ncent.x | Thursday, Nov 9
This time there's no excuse for a long wait for a Mac version! There's no weird cross-platform audio/video issues this time.
newkai | Thursday, Nov 9
Ditto on call recording. It is a must.
To be honest, I didn't realize that Gizmo Project had it already. Knowing that now, this may be the last time I ever sign into my Skype account.
BocaJuniors2005 | Friday, Nov 10
I just wanted to point out that Skype 3.0.0.106 Beta requires admin priviliges on Vista RC2, which means it has to be manually unblocked from startup, every time you restart the computer.
dsmenzies | Saturday, Nov 11
again a newer version fot windows, were is the linux one?????
leentje_s | Saturday, Nov 11
Seriously, Nobody of its team worries about the version for Linux?
v1ncent.x | Sunday, Nov 12
Great stuff, guys.
Is there any chance of including webcam during conference calls? (Or any way I can already do it, that I don't know about?)
whistle.my.tune | Monday, Nov 13
Wow. A 3.x release that should be a 2.x (not enough changes), and the Linux client continues to be left in the dark.
If you guys can't be bothered to update it, why should I be bothered to install it ?
In the meantime, anyone wanna start patching decent features into the Linux binary ?
tomchiv | Tuesday, Nov 14
Gizmo can really record calls, but I don't think it's very importante. And Skype is better in other functions, I'm sure of it. Althoug, if you still wanna record your calls, there's a plugin for Skype, called PAMELA. Search for it.
Sorry for my English,
Cassio Bruno
araujofamilia2 | Monday, Nov 20
This is an excellent step forwards for Skype and the Skype using community. Podcasters everywhere will thank Skype for a "somewhat-intergrated" support of call recording. The new features with the "Extras" and the SkypeCast support is also just great. I am just trying to get used to the new interface that Skype has bestowed on the version 3 (beta). I decided to blog about the new features in a quick first look. Check it out at"
http://tektrekgamer.wordpress.com/2006/12/02/skype-beta-3-with-call-recording-and-skypecasts-first-look/
tektrekgamer | Saturday, Dec 2
I would like to see all these nice features on linux too! Just because windows world is big you shouldn't ignore alternative users. And SKYPE RECORNING on Linux please. Thanks.
matjaz_pirnovar | Wednesday, Jan 17
And a Linux updated version is for what date ? Does the new bosses don't like Linux ?
paulo.ppereira.net | Wednesday, Jan 24
This is getting insulting and monotonous. I expect an email from someone at the company saying WHEN the Linux version is going to be 3.0 AND have these features. If you can't do it cross-platform, you are BAD programmers and you shouldn't be making any money off of this.
And if you want to say "we don't have the resources", then you're truly stupid, because there are THOUSANDS of free software projects that do just fine supporting multiple platforms without any funding.
I'd love to see the excuses.
maninscarymask | Thursday, Feb 8
Yes, please ! An update to Skype for Linux would be be very much appreciated. I was a Skype evangelist a while back and persuaded a bunch of my friends and business contacts to start using it. Since I moved wholesale from Windows to Ubuntu, I've had to start making excuses, which is no fun at all...
itsterry | Tuesday, Feb 13
what abous skype for mac os?
kumednyj | Wednesday, Apr 4
I have Vista operating system. My audio died when I upgraded to Skype3!
theocrat | Monday, Jul 30
The only thing is that Skype is getting bigger and bigger. So, I have complaints from the users at www.skype-info.com that use an old PC that is hard for them to make proper calls without delays with the latest Skype versions so I have the archives and email them one of the old versions when they ask for it.
msdeurope | Friday, Feb 22