Skype has made the technology accessible to all through it's simple and
fun-to-use chat-style interface and although this version has now been
superseded by version 5, some users may still prefer it because of its
slimmer interface. Version 2 also contains some decent additions to the
previous version, most notably its webcam facilities. This means you can now
watch your buddies as you chat to them and let them see you if you want. You
can use the program to chat with other Skype users anywhere in the world for
free either via telephone or the built-in chat feature. However, some overly
optimistic users may be disappointed to learn that you still need to pay for
credits to make calls to landlines and mobiles with Skype, through the
SkypeOut function. Luckily, this is a very painless process, and Skype has
recently added a plethora of different ways to pay. The program is perhaps
even easier to use than ever, with streamlined new tools such as the ability
to add a contact from the main Skype window and contact grouping for
arranging your friends, family and colleagues into categories. You can even
import contacts from Outlook, and find out if any of these use Skype. The
changes to the interface and its icons may confuse existing users for a
while, but once you get used to it, the new GUI is arguably more intuitive
than ever. As we've come to expect there's plenty you can do other than
just having a two-way conversation with a friend, including inviting other
users into a conference, setting up chatrooms, exchanging files, and viewing
the history of your contacts. You can even set up customized voicemail to
record messages while you're away from base. *Skype 2 remains a slimmed
down version of Skype that may have been replaced by Skype 5 but still
somehow feels simpler and more straightforward than the latter.*Download
*Skype 5.11.0.33* in Softonic
