Skype Marches Forward with Version 4.0

The latest version of Skype brings a refined interface, improved call quality, and full-screen video to the popular voice and video conferencing software.

The de facto standard in voice and video messaging on the Web just moved another notch forward. On Tuesday, Skype announced the fourth version of its free messaging client, which aims at making the experience both easier and better in quality.

First on the list of improvements: Users have far more control over windowed video conversations, including the ability to resize them on the fly and more easily switch to full-screen mode.

Skype also claims that both video and audio quality have been improved using compression algorithms that help make the most of available bandwidth. That should give most users with broadband connections true 30 fps video in high-quality mode, and the new audio engine (dubbed Silk) supposedly uses 50 percent less bandwidth for the same wideband audio quality, or offers “super wideband” quality for users with bandwidth to spare.

Finally, the user interface has also been tweaked to more easily keep track of multiple conversations, switch between voice and video seamlessly, and take advtantage of Skype’s more advanced subscription-based services (like calls to landlines).

The software is available immediately as a free download from Skype.