Skype readying 5-way video chats, cheap worldwide plans
updated 12:25 pm EDT, Wed May 5, 2010
Skype plans multi-user video chat beta
Skype this morning said it would launch a beta of its desktop app that opens the door to 5-user chat. The feature will be one of the few for a mainstream app outside of iChat and is being pitched as a way to simplify videoconferencing. The beta will be available sometime next week and will initially be free, though it may cost extra at a later date.
In sync with the video options, the company is also expanding its international calling plans to 170 countries as a cheaper alternative to the prepaid options they would normally have to use. The exact rates vary by country but start at the equivalent of $1.09 per month for 60 minutes of calling to real-world numbers. The deals can also work on a per-month basis or extend to every three months or whole year.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Yes, but....
Yes, but is Skype going to offer a simple, phone-service-like plan?
I went with MagicJack rather than Skype for my office long distance needs because it's not only cheaper, it's simpler. No klutzing with various in/out plans to various combinations of countries. Just some $2 a month for all of North America with a provision for funding calls elsewhere in the world. And I've saved quite a bit of money. Short calls come in on my T-Mobile/per minute cellular. Longer and outgoing calls are handled by MagicJack. I'd have preferred Skype's software solution to MagicJack's hardware plus software, but the other advantages were too persuasive.
My only gripe is that MagicJack and Google Voice don't work well together. Offline, MagicJack calls instantly goes to voice mail, blocking the ringing of my T-Mobile number. If Skype can 'make friendly' with Google Voice or offer a full set of Google Voice-like features, they'll get my attention again.