The next big step – say hello to group video calling
Today we’re offering you a preview of our brand new version of Skype, which supports group video calling for up to 5 people.
With the latest version, you’ll be able to bring the whole family together for a chat, for lunch, or even for a birthday. You’ll be able to spend quality time with your best friends, planning a trip, or even hosting a book club. And you’ll be able to meet with colleagues from across the world without leaving your desk.
Be aware that group video calling is currently in ‘beta’ – this means that there might be a few rough edges, and that it might not work perfectly every time. We welcome your feedback – either in the comments below, on Twitter, or via our dedicated feedback survey. We’re planning to release an updated official version later this year, but if you’re keen to try it today, you can download the new version of Skype now.
To make group video calls, the people you’re calling will also need to be running the new version, so make sure you let your friends and family know they can also download the beta by posting this on Facebook and Twitter. Once you’re all set up, it’s easy to start a group call – just use the Add button to invite people into the conversation, and click the Video Call button.
To get the best experience possible, you’ll need a fast, uncongested Internet connection and a reasonably new computer, but we’ve developed group video calling to work on a wide variety of connection types and hardware.
Group video calling is just one in a set of new premium features you’ll see us roll out during 2010. We haven’t set prices for these premium features yet, but rest assured that we’re still absolutely committed to bringing you free voice and two-way video calling.
Oh, and for those Mac users out there, don’t worry – we’ll be launching group video calling on the Mac later in the year too 
Enjoy!
I am a new user, d/l version 5.0 to my XP Pro (fully patched) desktop a few days ago. My ADSL2+ connection continually drops out when I have the Skype Application running, which creates no end of troubles for the other users of my home connection!!! I have tried unistallation, reinstalling an earlier version, and reinstalling the latest version from the web again, but unable to smoothly login and multitask….any suggestions would be appreciated.
I like the Group Video feature but it would be very helpful to have a screen sharing option. For small businesses and consultants that work together, they could perform real time reviews and modifications to designs through skype.
Windows and MacOS but where is Linux version?
I work on Linux everyday, my family and friends too, so where is up to date Linux version?
Im computer user like any other people, why i have to use old Skype version?
I’m loving this new feature, but a bit hesitant about “we haven’t set prices yet.” I realize that you’re creating demand for the product but as a user, I’m hesitant to start intertwining this into our business communications, only to find out that the price keeps it out of our reach once everything’s-a-go. Please please please keep it cheap… or better yet, Free!
+1 to the Linux version
There is no way that I will paid for a conference call, so Google, think when is free all people love it, when I have to paid, you going down like the titanic. NO THANKS..I keep free talk one on one for free….I can call for free in AIM in MAC with video chat with all the people for FREE….Why Skype. Google, Stop to put fees in all the things you create!
+7 on linux version:
me, my 2 grandfhathers, my 2 grandmothers, my brother and my friend that also uses Linux
I’ll add my voice to those calling for a Linux version, but I must say that it’s pretty clear the Linux version of Skype seems to be dead in the water. It’s been a year since Skype for Linux was updated and the comments on the corresponding blog post don’t give any sign of hope and now seem to be closed. I think it’s time we Linux users give up on Skype being a viable multi-platform alternative for video conferencing (even though no other alternatives currently exist!) My guess is that Google will probably come out with a web-based video conferencing solution long before Skype ever gets around to updating their Linux client.
guys either make an open API (please do this, you really shloud let other people write shit for skype) or make a new linux version, but actually i would prefer to have the API, because then we dont have to deal with you guys so much. (what would you use, just make pay-calls not usuable unless on real skype or something)
Hello Dear Skype,
Sky is not the limit…..this is super up….
Ajwan Arouje
+1 to linux. I used to linux and I llike skype But I like to linux (ubuntu) and I wainting for skype 5 and I start to borring for waitting Pls video conferaning for linux
Well this video conferencing feature is bad news. Skype continues to slowly degrade, as Windows / Mac / Linux / Android / iPhone all have different capabilities. Each platform is becoming a ghetto unable to Skype with others.
i was very excited when ive got the update for skype. alot of my friends are telling me that the video conference call are so cool and fast, but when the time im about to test it, there was a pop up window appeared on my screen saying that i need to pay for me to enjoy the service or i can still try it just for 7 days. im a little bit disappointed and sad about this i mean you guys created skype to connect people for free!! so why need to pay now? i know you guys spent alot of money to give us a free video call. but there is no way for me to pay monthly just for a video conference chat or call. it is a cool idea but paying for it is a no no for me.. i still love you skype even though im a little bit sad about this. im a mac user
Hello Skype.
Thanks for the group video trial, I used it exactly once before it ran out. I’d say I’d use it once a month and then I would love using it.
But paying for that? Is not how you guys got me into start paying for Skype-out. Letting me use my internet connection for free and profiting when I use Skype like I would use a phone company is how you got my trust. I even had great respect for you guys letting skype-out across borders be so cheap, and it led me to happily use and pay for Skype-out, even when I might have used my cell-phone. Skype had good reason for their monopoly.
However, with skype-to-skype group video having a monthly fee, talking over the internet suddenly feels like it costs me money. Don’t be greedy, you make room for competitors.
It is not unthinkable for a company like Apple to take advantage of that, just think of the potential of face time and their experience with iChat. In few steps they could do anything you do, and a matter like group video for free would be a big difference. On a related matter, I’m quite confident they would not downgrade the user experience to Microsoft level the way you just did with the new Skype for mac version.
I too will pay you my greatest respect and my money, but I will urge you to stay in front.
So, the group video calling is a trial for 7-days for free?
I got excited when I saw this blog post. However, when I went under the “Group Video Calls” tab it said it was only a 7-day trial. And if we wished to keep it we had to pay.
I’m grateful for it being free for only 7 days. However, I don’t think I will be able to use group video calling more than once within 7 days.
Would it be possible if a 3-way group video call is free completely? just 3.
I agree with chinkyysharon,
makes you feel like the Skype business model is so old school not like google, which is more 21st century (i.e do more for the users; like you and me, and make money from creative projects that people with money (enterprise and business) can pay). I feel like skype is like one ISP , NetZero, whose mission statement was “defender of the free world”, after they had the market, this ISP started charging $9.99.
Nice of you copying Apple iChats capability which has been around for like ages (and nobody is really using it) … I know you guys think you created something great but yll you really did is take the idea of something that was alredy invented for free and slapped a price tag on it – very uncool if ur asking me but keep baskin away in ur “glory” – wouldn’t wanna be in your shoes when everybody else, especially Apple finds out LOL