Skype launched a new beta (version 2.5.0.72) today of its software for Windows that has some pretty neat new features.
Bill Campbell lists them all. The one I’ve set up straightaway is being able to send SMS messages from Skype to mobile phones which your friends or colleagues can then respond to – and you receive their messages on your mobile phone, not in Skype.
Setup is a simple procedure involving getting a verification code for your mobile phone from Skype which sends it as an SMS message:
Works great based on an SMS I sent to my wife. The cost is the same (0.10 in The Netherlands) as if you had sent the SMS directly from your mobile phone.
It would be neat if you could also receive any SMS reply message in Skype if you wanted to.
Another feature that I will definitely try out is the Skypecasting service:
[] Skypecasts are large, hosted calls on Skype. Let your opinion be heard on subjects close to your heart in groups of up to 100 people participating from anywhere in the world.
I plan to get to that one soon.
Overall, I’m pleased that this Skype beta works seamlessly with my Linksys Skype phone, a really useful device that is my primary means of using Skype for making and receiving calls. Then I noticed a link in Bill’s post to the Polycom Communicator speakerphone for Skype.
Not yet available in The Netherlands, more’s the pity
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Neville Hobson is the author of the popular NevilleHobson.com blog which focuses on business communication and technology.
Neville is currentlly the VP of New Marketing at Crayon. Visit Neville Hobson’s blog: NevilleHobson.com.
