∞ New Skype beta introduces group video chat, more

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Skype has introduced a new beta version of its popular conference application for the Mac. Skype 5.0 beta is now ready for download.

[ad#Google Adsense 300x250 in story]The new version of Skype sports a significant interface change – it now employs a single window and a “sidebar” iTunes-style design. Address Book access is now integrated, and a floating “Dial Pad” and mini control bar float free above any windows you have open.

Perhaps most significantly, Skype 5.0 for Mac now supports group video calling (all users must have Skype 5.0 for either Mac or Windows installed). The group calling feature will look familiar to users of iChat AV who have tried group video chats – multiple windows appear in a curved array.

Skype 5.0 for Mac beta requires a 1GHz Intel processor or faster, Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later, 100MB free disk space. Voice and video calls have bandwidth requirements also – more details are available from the Web site.


  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_U7HVM3W3GYPTZYNWJA6QB2MZ64 Dany

    Too bad that group video chat is a paid feature with Skype, it should not even be talked about! Of course the other alternatives have always been bad, such as using chat rooms for video conferencing. However I read an article a few days ago about http://www.faceflow.com and video conferencing is free on this website. It’s good and it should get better from what I read. No money on Skype’s video chat for me!