Skype To Support Video Conferences Next Week

As of next week, Skype will begin to support video calls to up to four other users, that's five total. The public beta of "Group Video Calling" will be Windows only from the get-go, but they will be rolling out a Mac version later this year, as well. At launch, the feature will be free, but Skype says that in about three or four months (when the Mac version is supposed to be out), they plan to charge for the feature. It'll probably be aimed at the business realm, but I still think it's idiotic that they plan to charge for this. Skype is known for free Skype-to-Skype calls, and conference video chatting is a feature that's been requested for quite some time, not to mention that iChat, ooVoo, TinyChat, and many others offer the feature absolutely free. This has less of a use-case in the corporate setting, because so many offices already have a secure professional video conferencing setup implemented. It makes more sense for use in the home for long distance families to keep in touch, or for friends to get together online. Hopefully they reconsider before too long. Windows users, you should be able to download and give it a shot next week. 

Skype and Verizon Tackle International Calls

At MWC this week, Verizon and Skype announced a partnership that would negate the need for exorbitant international calling rates. SkypeOut costs infinitely less to call internationally that what Verizon charges, so this is a great step in the right direction. The partnership will allow for free Skype-to-Skype calls over 3G, SkypeOut calls internationally, and Skype chat. One caveat, though. There is no domestic call capability at the moment, which cripples the service for most users. AT&T already allows it to happen with Fring and soon with Skype, so we're sure to see it on Verizon soon. Why they didn't allow it from the get-go is a mystery to me.

Full press release after the jump.

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Skype Over 3G "Coming Real Soon"

You didn't think Skype would let iCall and Skype get all the attention now that Apple and AT&T are allowing calls over 3G did you? Skype just announced their solution for the incredibly popular service would be "coming real soon". The new version is being held back just a little bit so they can perfect the audio quality. They're boasting CD audio quality for Skype to Skype calls over 3G which is very impressive. Check out the video below for all the details on the release.

Skype Class-Action Settled

I woke up this morning to an email from a class-action suit against Skype. Apparently, if you purchased credits from Skype that expired before December 31, 2009, you're eligible for a $4.00 credit. What happened was that the class-action suit claimed that allowing credits to expire after 180 days was against the laws imposed on gift certificates and so should also apply to Skype credits. Skype settled, dropped the 180 day rule, and now you get $4.00! All the information is after the jump.

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