Skype for Windows 2.5 BETA — SMS, Shared Groups, other improvements
Skype for Windows 2.5 BETA is now available. [Download it here.](http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/skype25beta.html)
Following are the highlights of this release.
### Shared groups
Shared groups are an interesting new feature. [Read this for more](http://blogs.skype.com/sites/en/2006/05/shareg_groups_in_skype.html) or see the [starting guide](http://www.skype.com/help/guides/sharedgroups.html).
### SMS
You can now send [SMS text messages](http://www.skype.com/products/skypesms/) to mobiles with Skype. Just right-click on a contact who has a mobile number entered in their profile, or on a SkypeOut mobile contact, and select “Send SMS Message”. [See the guide for more.](http://www.skype.com/help/guides/sms.html)
]]>SMS is available globally. If the message is longer than the standard 160 characters (less when you use non-Latin characters), the text is split up into several messages and you may be charged for more than one message.
The price of the message varies according to the destination country. The exact rate is displayed when composing the message. [See the rates.](http://www.skype.com/products/skypesms/rates/)
SMS sending is outbound only: you cannot receive SMS messages in Skype. However, there’s a cool trick which lets the messages look like they have been sent from your mobile number. This way, you can send messages to your friends from Skype, and they can respond to your mobile, and it works seamlessly. To do this, you have to send an authentication code to your mobile and then enter it in Skype. See “Tools”, “Options”, “SMS Messages”.
### Easier SkypeOut calls and dialling
We want to make SkypeOut as easy to use as is humanly and alienly possible, and then make it easier still. This release has many improvements to serve that goal.
First, you no longer need to enter the number always in full international format when dialing within your current country. You can enter numbers in local format, and Skype figures it all out for you. Also, we have reworked the Dial tab for the exact same reason. You no longer need to learn all those country codes — Ecuador is +593, Germany is +49, Luxembourg is +352 and all that. Instead, you can just select the country name from the dropdown and enter the number in local format, and the behind-the-scenes magic does all the rest.
Prices have been hard to figure out — the only way to check them until now was to confirm them on the web. Now, when you are making a SkypeOut call, the current active minute price is displayed right on the call tab.
We’ve also made it easier for you to call your existing contacts using SkypeOut by allowing you to view and call all of your Outlook contacts directly from Skype. To see your Outlook contacts in Skype, just go to the View menu item and select “View Outlook Contacts”. Skype displays all of your Outlook contacts immediately. Best of all, they’ll stay up-to-date as Skype refreshes your Outlook contacts everytime you make a change or add a new contact.
### Video no longer limited to Windows XP only
We limited video for Windows XP in the previous release to ensure maximum quality and stability. In this release, we have removed this limitation — video calls now work on all the platforms where you have installed the latest versions of DirectX, your webcam driver and fulfilled other dependencies. This certainly includes Windows 2000 where it works fine, plus naturally Windows XP continues to be supported. We have actually not put much work into checking whether it works on Windows 98/ME, as those platforms are heading towards being made obsolete. On Skype side there are no limitations why it should not, so if you are running one of those systems (or any other version of Windows not covered here), please try it out and let us know how it goes.
### Call quality helper
Call quality remains one of our highest priorities. There are many components to call quality and Skype software is just one of them. Other important factors are your network and hardware configuration. If any of those is not optimal, your call quality may degrade, even though it may be easy to fix.
To help you achieve the highest possible call quality, Skype now monitors the related factors and displays help info if it finds anything that could be improved. The call quality indicator sits next to the call duration meter. Just click it to get more help.
### Improved Conference Calling with voice meters
Instantly see who is talking on a conference call as the participant’s picture flashes when they begin to speak. This happens during all calls, but it’s especially handy in conference calling.
### Easier to buy Skype Credit
One of the many suggestions you have given us is to make payments easier. Currently, you need to go through about ten screens on the web to complete your first payment if you wish to buy Skype Credit. To make it easier, 2.5 contains an integrated payment feature and most of the payment flow happens right on your desktop. Just click “Buy Skype Credit” in the Skype account area and follow the on-screen prompts. This is much handier than clicking through a bunch of web screens, even though you are taken to the web for final stages of your payment. (The last bit happens because Skype works with numerous payment providers and banks, and getting them all to support the integrated payment flow would have required considerable re-engineering of numerous web-based systems, which was not realistic for this release. More simplification will surely follow in the future releases.)
### Easier upgrades
A big grievance with Skype was that it was difficult and tedious to upgrade — you had to check a menu item and go to some website and then manually download and install the update. No more — Skype now does it all for you. By default, it downloads the new version automatically and just prompts you for final installation. You can modify this behaviour in Options menu, Updates section.
To check if there is an update available, just open the Help menu and select Check for Update.
### Please tell us what you think
We’re eager to know what you think of this new version. Please [sign up to receive the survey](http://ecustomeropinions.com/popup/survey.php?sid=909839823). In a couple of weeks, we will then e-mail you a survey to fill. This will be of great help to us. Thanks.
Apart from the survey, please post comments here or in the forum and on your own blogs and any other places you can think of. Let’s get the word out there.
Hey, GREAT! Now.. What about the Apple MAC users? Skype for OSX is still at version 1.4. I’m sorry, but we feel a bit left behind… HEEEEELP!
Indeed, patrickmast – I endorse your comments 100%
Come on SKYPE you have a good product – I have seen it working and used it on a PC … … BUT please there is a huge Apple Mac base out here waiting with tounges out.
Please, PLEASE, P L E A S E, do not forget us!
cambshiregordon
All is grear except that the interface is a bit too piled up. The sms-es are cheaper than in most countries, but more expencive than in http://www.thesmszone.com – there everything is 8 cents and I suggested to use their sms feature like 5 months ago.
oh oh my Windows XP reports corrupted installation files…. But from the description it seems what we have been waiting for.
So far everything works fine and installing was also very smooth. I have not tried calling yet but SMS sending works really well. I prefer skype for SMS as this is a lot more comfortable than useing some web interface solutions. I’ll ask my collegues to upgrade so i could try the groups shareing also. Skype guys, you rock!!! Of course i agree with those who are waiting for Mac version updates
Very nice, so far so good, notificasation of SMS delivery is nice and reordering of the contact list at last thank you, keep up the good work. Now to try out the rest of the new features.
Skype2.5中文测试版五大新功能直译
http://www.9skype.com/
All looks cool. BUT I was very disappointed to see that an ability to record has not been included in this build. As a podcaster it would make a huge difference to the quality and ease at which I record my podcast. In addition to that this is a feature that the podcasting community is screaming out for. Please Skype dudes we need to record. And don’t get me started on the plugins they just don’t work or have crap quality… we need the excellent quality that Skype is famous for. The one thing that is preventing Skype from being the killer app. IMHO.
Sounds great, but when will Mac be updated???
While I’m writing SMS messages, they are kept in the window, but once I {close this window | restart Skype}, the SMS history is lost. Will be they retained in the future?
Related question – I can open each person’s Chat History with person’s context menu – but only unnamed chats. All chat texts written in Named Chats (Topic set to some title) are buried (but not lost I think) in some of my my Skype’s settings folders – will there be any interface to recover them? Or am I missing something?
Excellent! There are not many programs out there that when you download the BETA you can say “YES, they have got it right… again!!”
Carry on the good work!
You guys are probably going to release 5.0 for Windows before 2.0 for Mac, huh?
hi! Some remarks:
1. language choice in the profile – gives only one option. I speak well 4, and a little – 2 more languages. would be good to have more than one choice.
2.the “view outlook contacts” worked quite well! 1048 contacts are now in skype! what’s the privacy issue that noone will be able to get that information?
3. when sending an SMS to an outlook contact, i see only his name on the screen, but not the GSM number. would be neat to see both.
4. I have two GSM phones. But in the menu about SMS there’s place to authorize only one phone… I don’t want to risk registering them both, but being able to use only one. Again about privacy – what are the chances of someone stealing all GSM numbers and mis-using them?
5. when checking for updates (the automatic doesn’t work), would be good to get available beta versions, if one chooses to get this notifications.
6. when sending SMS, which is the actual “sending SMS center”?
7. Just did a test with my mobile numbers. the European GSM worked well, and the sender number was the one approved with the code.
BUT, the US GSM got a totally different sender’s number!! so, if i want to respond, it will go to a phone, which is in… India?!?!? (it gives as sender country code +91. That’s VERY weird.
I like what you are offering but cannot get my web cam to work with it. Works ok in Version 2.
What about SMSin? That is a number, like a Skypein number, so SMS messaged can come directly into Skype. No need for a mobile phone.
I forgot to ask, “Is anyone else unable to use their web cam with Version 2.5?” I have gone back to version 2.0.0.103
Please~ A new Mac version…
Also would like to see video available…
Otherwise, thanks for a great product.
I’m using skype since 1.XX and also have skype out service with full satisfaction, untill I upgraded to 2.5 Hope only because of Beta but camera (medion 4032) doesn’t work, I could not get SMS validation, so only the 2.XX features working not the new ones).
I returned to 2.0.0.103 and I’m fully satisfied again
Yes yes, waiting for SKype 2.0 for OS X, c’mon!
Who is the marketing genius who decided to put advertising crawlers at the bottom of the Skype Out screen? Did you find him at Microsoft or eBay? Can you ship him back?
When I am paying to make a Skype Out call, why should I have to spend my time turning off one annoying advertising “suggestion” after another?
Does Skype really believe that punishing loyal, paying Skype customers with trash on their screen will sell more Skype? There is no obvious way to disable this garbage.
If this is a “feature” in Skype 2.5 — an otherwise excellent program — I’m heading back to Skype 2.0.
When will skype for linux be updated?
Hi – Just downloaded Skype 2.5 and using it with Linksys CIT200 phone using 3.4.8 driver. I was dissapointed that the phone does not see the “Outlook contacts” now shown in Skype 2.5! Is that being fixed please in the next Skype release, or will Linksys have to update their driver? Many thanks, Andy
Nice updates, but it looks like I’m going to be stuck at v2 forever since this Beta (and I’m assuming all other future versions) breaks Skyllian and the developer of that Trillian plugin is no longer developing it.
I’m running XP, but 2.5 is running like mud on my machine. I’ve tried three times and had to uninstall three times. Gone back to 2.0
Come on Skype, it can’t be that difficult to port the software to OSX, the only way to link video to Mac and PC at the moment is via AOL & iChat, and the extremely complicated YAK interface, although at least YAK have a working version on both Macs and PCs !
Don’t leave the Mac community behind and race on with development of the Windows version. What’s the delay ? Lack of developers ? It’s bad enough XP has version 2, but a 2.5 beta as well !!!!
Skype sms – good, but tooooo expensive (Poland – sms for 0,01 eurocent, international SmS also cheap(via internet).
And where are my grouped contacts in this 2.5 beta?
My comment for now, I download the beta 2.5 but for some reason it uses a lot of CPU: 70% while the old version 2.0.XXX uses only 30%. for now, I roll back to the version 2.0.XXX. But I will definitely try it again after a few months, wait until its more reliable.
Other comments:
SMS is a little bit pricey
Webcam works fine
sms setup does not work!!!!! took my skype credit, sent the sms to my mobile phone but when I enter the code sent to me…the skype submit button never leaves the greyed out state…i.e. inactive!!!
DON’T USE STEALES YOUR MONEY!!!
Seen some comments on webcam issues. I have the same problem. Problem is endemic to Logitec ???. Web cam will not initalise in Beta 2.5. Rolled back the computer to 2.0 ver. As soon as bug is ironed out will use this more versatile programme. keep up the good work
Hi
Here is the main BUG I can find in Skype 2.5 Beta (any build):
I’m a portuguese skype user and need to use a lot of accented words. As soon as I install skype 2.5, I have problems with the accents.
For exemple, if I try to type “pé” é got “p´´e” or “m~~ao” instead of “mão”.
This happens both in skype chat window and all other app (like MS word, notepad, etc.)
That’s weird and I couldn’t find any solution for this untill now! The most weird thing is: I close Skype and the problem stopts (MS Word will work ok again)… I start skype again and…. for a few seconds, the accents behave normally, but just for a few seconds! hock:
I’ve been searching the FORUNS for an answer but it seems I’m the only one having this trouble!
Re-installed Skype 2.0.0.105 and everithing works fine!
Salomao
I installed 2.5, and it seemed great. Then, I had two Skype calls. After the calls, I noticed that the History tab did not display the duration of the calls: it didn’t display the duration for the two calls I had had in 2.5, and it didn’t display the duration for any of the calls I had made with earlier calls.
I had always liked being able to see how long a call had lasted after it had ended. So, I switched back to 2.0.0.105.
Back in 2.0 now, the History did not display the Skype name of the person I had been talking with in the two calls that I had had while using 2.5.
Skype 2.5 seems to have several great new features; but that History problem should be fixed.
installed the beta, and have a couple of comments.
1) sound quality looks much better then in the 2.o.version
2) for the second time the programm closed itself without any warning or comment
3)i was talking to someone and wanted someone else to join the conversation and that did not work.i then tried to make a conferencecall with these 2 people but got the message that the conversation with the previous caller was still on, but in fact it wasn’t
4) like the video quality in the bigger screen also better
now had some runtime errors and the programm closed down
Hello,
Serbia is on the list of supported countries, but I cannot send a SMS to Serbia.
What happens?
Thanks
I’m finding the Beta version 2.5 excellent. SMS works fine, so does cam, etc.
I have a feature request though. The one key feature of msn that is lackign in skype chat is the indication that “person X is typing a message”. MSN tells you this while your friend is typing, before their message actually arrives. It is very useful, because you konw whether a long and awkward silence is due to your friend’s slow typing speed, or whether it really is a long and awkard silence. It also stops interruptions, someone starting a new converstion before the last one has finished, etc. etc. Please please include this feature.
I can only repeat the same question several other users have made: When will there be the next major update for Mac Osx?
Will 2.5 for the Mac be compatible with iSight?
Hi everyone.
I am a Mac user (10.3.9) and I have just downloaded the new Beta version. I simply can’t find the right way of sending SMS. Moreover, the Help pages don’t seem to be really useful for Mac users.
Any help from anyone?
Thanks for that
F. Rubesa
(London)
Thank you Skype version 1.5.0.52 it is terrific. My stand-alone iSight works perfectly to connect with my roaming family of built-in iSight iBook users. Of course there is always a complaint ) and here it is … As an over 50 person my SMS texting skills are embarrassingly slow when compared with a 5 year old !!! I then noticed SMS texting over Skype. Great I thought, I can use the keyboard. But alas this is not to be. So my complaint / Question. When can you squeeze this little feature into to Mac OS X version? At the end of the day it can only improve your finances.
Downloaded Skype 2.5 yesterday and it worked fine until I tried to log on this morning, then logged off. And when I tried to log on later in the afternoon it gave me the message that I could not log on because of my internet connection/ firewall settings. I checked everything, changed the settings according to the troubleshooter pages. And still I could not log on. Very strange. So I changed back to version 2.0.0.103. Now it’s working fine again.
Did anyone else experienced this problem?
Why does the Mac version lack of this function? Mac users want to send SMS too…