The new Skype 3.0 has just been released in a beta version for Microsoft Windows, to include features such as ‘click to call’ and ‘ Skypecasts’. The 3.0 version also comes with a new user interface, which claims to provide a more personalized experience with new clickable mood messages and new wallpapers.
The Click to Call feature lets users make calls to ordinary phone numbers when they are online, using the SkypeOut feature. Another feature, Skypecasts, will enable users to engage in live, moderated discussions in groups of up to 100 people across the world. Skype has also introduced Public Chats which are open, ongoing text conversations based on instant messaging where users can meet new people online and chat directly from Skype. Public chats can be promoted using online links and web banners in email signatures, blogs, forums, websites or even Skype mood messages.
The Public Chats and Skypecasts will be moderated by hosts, who are authorized to reject or ban users from public chats and set rules on who can participate and observe the conversation in progress. Skype says that the Click-to-Call feature in this version works with both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.