Skype hits the big 3.0
By
Jane Hoskyn on December 13, 2006 in Skype beta and new releases.
On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love sent to me a partridge in a pear tree. I sent it back and told him to try again. A partridge would poop all over the carpet, and I can get really good pears from that little shop on Wood Street E17.
On the 13th day of Christmas*, my true love sent to me a brand new version of Skype, and I was well chuffed.
(Technically it’s the 13th day of December, not the 13th day of Christmas – but who’s counting?)
Skype’s latest, greatest Windows incarnation is now out of beta, and makes its public debut today. Nip over to Skype’s homepage and follow the links to download this free, 19MB beauty, which is easier than ever to use, loads more powerful and comes stacked with extra personalisation features.
All the usual features are in place (free Skype-to-Skype calls, free video calls etc), but there’s plenty more besides. Over the next few days I’ll take a look at individual features in more detail, but here’s a quick overview:
Browser extensions for IE and Firefox that convert phone numbers on web pages into Skype links. Click a number, and Skype calls it using SkypeOut. Choose during installation whether you want these extensions included.
New emoticons, including some hidden ones that I’ll tell you about once I’ve, erm, found them…
Sound settings wizard for easier handling of audio devices while you’re making a call.
Extras including games, a “whiteboard” for notes and even desktop-sharing during a call.
Skypecasts controls for browsing current Skypecasts. Decide to join or host one, and the Skypecast will run in a separate tab – no more clunky pop-up browser windows.
Public chats – watch this space for news of public chat directories.
Comments
I wanted to share some information about the BitWine Extra which will enable users to enjoy the richness of other Extras such as the Whiteboard, Screen Share and others, to create a combined value greater than the sum of its components.
The BitWine Extra can be found under
"Tools->Do More->Get Extras->BitWine"
The “BitWine Taskbar Skype Edition” is fully integrated into Skype 3.0, which allows users to provide paid advice or instantly purchase the advice or knowledge urgently needed using Skype and PayPal.
“We followed bloggers and answer leaders on different forums, and a recurring theme was the desire of skilled, knowledgeable individuals to be able to charge for the advice that they had been dispensing for free,” stated Alon Cohen, BitWine’s co-founder. “By combining the power of Skype’s rich media audio and video communications, we can now open our service beyond dispensing advice to a whole set of diverse rich media services ranging from music lessons to language tutoring to securing a second opinion on legal and medical issues.”
BitWine’s features are designed to promote instant trust between the service purchaser and supplier. The buyer does not have to prepay for service. Both parties can hear and see each other, and the buyer only pays if he feels comfortable with the interaction.
Using the patent-pending payment system on the BitWine Taskbar, Skype users will now be able to securely pay and receive instant checks. In addition BitWine offers an interface for bloggers to invite readers to call them for personal discussions that can be converted to revenue in real time. BitWine’s service also provides scheduling for optimal time management and a highly developed feedback and ranking system.
Thanks You Skype for providing us with the opportunity.
alonchook | Thursday, Dec 14