Introducing Skype 3.0 Beta for Windows
Skype 3.0 Beta for Windows is now available. We recommend it only for experienced users, as we continue to work on it. [Download here](http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/skype3beta.html), and [see this page](https://developer.skype.com/WindowsSkype) to find out how you can give us feedback to improve it.
This will be a major milestone release, comparable in its significance perhaps to Skype video calling that came out about a year ago. Nevermind all the bugfixes and tiny improvements – lots of those too, but we're also talking some major new things in this release. And here's what those are.
### New look and feel
This is the first thing that you'll notice when you first install and run Skype 3.0 beta, and the first major update to Skype's interface on Windows in a long time. [Read more about the new look and feel in this post.](http://blogs.skype.com/sites/en/2006/11/a_new_face_for_30.html)
### Public chats
Aside from the new interface, Public Chats are one of the most significant new features in this release. So significant, in fact, that they too deserve their own blogpost. [Read more about public chats and other chat improvements.](http://blogs.skype.com/sites/en/2006/11/public_chats_and_chat_improvem.html)
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esteticajolie commented Wednesday, Nov 8
AND WE ARE 8 MILLION USERS ONLINE!!!
MY COUNTER COUNTS 8,008,227 USERS!!!
COME ON!
Estetica Jolie centro estetico a Lugo (RA)
http://www.esteticajolie.it
qtrans_asbjoern commented Wednesday, Nov 8
And this version again requires admin priviliges on Vista. Is it totally impossible for you to try to be even the slightest bit Vista compatible? The 2.6 beta had this problem and there you fixed it. Now it back in *newer* beta!
I like Skype 3, but I'll have to go back to 2. until you fix this.
msmobiles commented Thursday, Nov 9
all these new features are in vein if you don't have audio recording of Skype calls. Podcasting is almost 3 years old and you still don't have this feature what forces people like Engadget folks to use other VoIP software like Gizmo Project! Please add audio recording of Skype calls ASAP!
v1ncent.x commented Thursday, Nov 9
When we'll see this for Linux? =)
Don't tell me that it's not possible!
ramon.parada commented Thursday, Nov 9
In Linux we still are using version 1.3 with no sms, no videconference, etc. It seems nobody at Skype is working on GNU/Linux version.
v1ncent.x commented Thursday, Nov 9
ramon.parada:
I know! =(... And i don't understand why no one is making really good programs (like Skype) for Linux - Because is one of the sistems of the future, including MAC OS...
If we don't change, no one it will do it for us.
newkai commented Thursday, Nov 9
This time there's no excuse for a long wait for a Mac version! There's no weird cross-platform audio/video issues this time.
BocaJuniors2005 commented Friday, Nov 10
Ditto on call recording. It is a must.
To be honest, I didn't realize that Gizmo Project had it already. Knowing that now, this may be the last time I ever sign into my Skype account.
dsmenzies commented Saturday, Nov 11
I just wanted to point out that Skype 3.0.0.106 Beta requires admin priviliges on Vista RC2, which means it has to be manually unblocked from startup, every time you restart the computer.
v1ncent.x commented Sunday, Nov 12
Seriously, Nobody of its team worries about the version for Linux?
whistle.my.tune commented Monday, Nov 13
Great stuff, guys. Is there any chance of including webcam during conference calls? (Or any way I can already do it, that I don't know about?)
tomchiv commented Tuesday, Nov 14
Wow. A 3.x release that should be a 2.x (not enough changes), and the Linux client continues to be left in the dark.
If you guys can't be bothered to update it, why should I be bothered to install it ?
In the meantime, anyone wanna start patching decent features into the Linux binary ?
araujofamilia2 commented Monday, Nov 20
Gizmo can really record calls, but I don't think it's very importante. And Skype is better in other functions, I'm sure of it. Althoug, if you still wanna record your calls, there's a plugin for Skype, called PAMELA. Search for it.
Sorry for my English,
Cassio Bruno
tektrekgamer commented Saturday, Dec 2
This is an excellent step forwards for Skype and the Skype using community. Podcasters everywhere will thank Skype for a "somewhat-intergrated" support of call recording. The new features with the "Extras" and the SkypeCast support is also just great. I am just trying to get used to the new interface that Skype has bestowed on the version 3 (beta). I decided to blog about the new features in a quick first look. Check it out at"
matjaz_pirnovar commented Wednesday, Jan 17
I would like to see all these nice features on linux too! Just because windows world is big you shouldn't ignore alternative users. And SKYPE RECORNING on Linux please. Thanks.
paulo.ppereira.net commented Wednesday, Jan 24
And a Linux updated version is for what date ? Does the new bosses don't like Linux ?
maninscarymask commented Thursday, Feb 8
This is getting insulting and monotonous. I expect an email from someone at the company saying WHEN the Linux version is going to be 3.0 AND have these features. If you can't do it cross-platform, you are BAD programmers and you shouldn't be making any money off of this.
And if you want to say "we don't have the resources", then you're truly stupid, because there are THOUSANDS of free software projects that do just fine supporting multiple platforms without any funding.
I'd love to see the excuses.
itsterry commented Tuesday, Feb 13
Yes, please ! An update to Skype for Linux would be be very much appreciated. I was a Skype evangelist a while back and persuaded a bunch of my friends and business contacts to start using it. Since I moved wholesale from Windows to Ubuntu, I've had to start making excuses, which is no fun at all...
theocrat commented Monday, Jul 30
I have Vista operating system. My audio died when I upgraded to Skype3!
msdeurope commented Friday, Feb 22
The only thing is that Skype is getting bigger and bigger. So, I have complaints from the users at www.skype-info.com that use an old PC that is hard for them to make proper calls without delays with the latest Skype versions so I have the archives and email them one of the old versions when they ask for it.