New Skype with Facebook integration and group video calls

After the long testing term of beta version since May, Skype have finally released the version 5. This version include group video conferencing and facebook integration.

Skype have integrated the Facebook News Feed and Phonebook into Skype, making it easier to stay connected with the people and communities you care about. Skype have refreshed the look and feel, making voice and video calling, instant messaging, screen sharing and file sharing intuitive and easy to navigate. And you can now bring even more of your family and friends together with the new group video calling feature available in open beta.

With Facebook integration, you can:

• see your Facebook News Feed in Skype
• post status updates that can be synced with your Skype mood message
• comment and like friends’ updates and wall posts
• call and SMS your Facebook friends on their mobile phones and landlines
• make a free Skype-to-Skype call if your Facebook friend is also a Skype contact

Video calling accounted for approximately 40% of all Skype-to-Skype minutes in the first half of this year, and with the new version of Skype, you’ll receive a free trial of group video calling in beta. We’ve added a dynamic group video calling view, which it easy to follow who’s talking by moving the focus to the person speaking on the call – try it out!

You can download the Latest version from here.

Skype have also continued to further improve call quality, and the new version of Skype introduces automatic call recovery, which helps you reconnect calls that are interrupted due to Internet connection problems. Plus, the call quality manager gauges audio and video quality during calls, helping you to resolve problems and improving the call experience.

Source : Skype Blog