Skype 2.0 Adds Video Phone Features

Skype has released a beta version of its Skype 2.0 software which adds video phone capabilities to the massively popular Internet-phone application.

Internet-phone darling Skype, recently acquired by online auction giant eBay, has released a free beta version of its 2.0 Skype software for Windows, improving usability, adding enhanced features, and rolling in new video phone capabilities sure to be popular with computer-to-computer users with video camera capabilities. Skype also announced a new Outlook toolbar plus partnerships with webcam makers Logitech and Creative and blog firm Six Apart, which operates the popular TypePad and LiveJournal blog services.

Skype’s new video calling feature offers full-screen one-to-one video phone capabilities for users who have Skype-compatible Webcams on their computers and sufficient bandwidth available to both send and receive video (basically, any broadband Internet connection should do). The video phone feature also includes a window to view what you look like to the person you’re calling. The new version also offers a streamlined user interface, the ability to personalize your Skype identify with avatars, moods, and custom ringtones, and a new contact-grouping feature.

Skype is also offering a toolbar for Microsoft Outlook which enables one-click calling to contacts in Outlook address books and notification when other Skype users are online.

Early next year, blog service firm Six Apart will be embedding links to Skype as an option for the millions of users of its popular TypePad blog service, with LiveJournal to follow later in 2006, with the idea to provide blog-readers one-click access to online blog authors via Skype.

Skype has partnered with Logitech and Creative to brand “Skype-certified” Web cams which are compatible with Skype’s video calling features; Skype-certified products will be available from Skype’s online store as well as major U.S. retailers (including Radio Shack) and selected retailers in Europe.