Skype is a hugely popular VOIP application and has a large number of people using it all over the world. Although it's a fantastic application that's not to say that there aren't improvements that can be made to the software. Many people have began to use Skype as their main form of long distance communication as it's cheap and reliable, but you still have to rely on the person you want to contact to be available, and that's not exactly convenient when they happen to be on the hundreds or even thousands of miles away.  

PrettyMay for Skype 3.5 is a voice assistant for Skype that enables users to receive answer-machine messages which are left when you are away from your computer, saving them as an MP3 file. You can playback messages, forward them via email or call back the person who left you the message.

PrettyMay for Skype 3.5 link.

If you're a business user, there are few options for chatting with other users. LinkedIn is an obvious place to keep in touch, but it doesn't have real-time discussion possibilities, nor can you connect through a messenger client. Skype is a clear alternative. We use it to keep in touch with colleagues from other offices (when they can be bothered to login). Of course, the primary reason for using Skype is cheaper international phone conversations, via VOIP.

Skype 4 has been in development for a while and has had an official release. Why they developers of Skype can't produce a multi-platform client, releasing the same product across Windows, Mac and Linux, I don't know. Confusing. Anyway, the latest v4 brings a brand new interface (and we've still not decided whether it's better or worse than the previous version) which is geared towards video communication. If you don't intend to chat via webcam, go back to 'compact mode' which brings the interface more in line with the previous version of Skype.

Skype 4 link.

Only a year ago it seemed like everyone was using Skype for their VOIP calls. Within the last year, most of the major IM (internet messaging) developers have added some kind of VOIP support to their chat software and video conferencing, so you can use your webcam for making video calls. Better still, inter-operability enables a PC user to chat to a Mac user and vice-versa.

First up is Skype 2.5, currently the most popular dedicated VOIP application, with a Mac OS X version in beta testing that supports video conferencing. The Gizmo Project is a another popular VOIP package, but the Linux version lags behind the Windows release. However, the Mac OS X version is nearly as up-to-date. Windows Live Messenger is Microsoft's VOIP package and replaces MSN Messenger, whilst Google recently release GoogleTalk. AOL are due to release v1.5 of their Triton project, which might be worth considering.

Let us know which VOIP package you prefer (or an alternative such as Wengo, which we aim to get online soon!).

Skype and other VoIP applications are great for chatting over the Internet. With Apple enabling Windows access to iSight (whether it is built-in within your MacBook or external, via the old iSight camera) through Bootcamp, it makes a video chat via Skype a much more realistic prospect.

However, what happens when you're working within Mac OS X, using Skype and a friend wants a video chat? The current Mac release of Skype 1.5 cannot chat with a PC, using video. This is all about to change with the forthcoming release of Skype 2.0 for the Mac. It also supports picture-in-picture, so you can see both yourself and the remote user, on your desktop.

At this stage, it's still in beta, but worth downloading if you're a Mac Skype fan. Grab it here.

Apple users left feeling cold with Skype’s recent updates can now rejoice with the 1.5 beta release that finally enables video calling with the world’s favourite VoIP service. Sporting an improved UI and smoother than expected video; this software will allow you to hold calls with anyone using the Sype software, regardless of what platform. However, Skype do stress that is only a preview version, recommended for experienced users who will not rely on it as their sole VoIP application.

Download here.