News - Skype 7 for Mac and Skype for Windows preview announced

[HEXUS]

The new design refocuses on messaging with a mobile influenced look.

Read more.

[SciFi]

I WANT TO USE IT AS A PHONE NOT A TXT CLIENT !!!!!111oneelleven :-(

[JackBeePee]

I'm only really interested in the Windows one and that doesn't look bad to me. I don't think they've overdone the whole phone look, which seems to be rare.

[rabbid]

"The big change is that the program is straying from its traditional focus on video and voice calling and instead, making a shift to refocus on instant messaging."

it always had messaging!
they mean they want to make the messaging now look like everyone elses?!

[tribaljet]

Considering how Skype's text messaging has always been awful as it focused on audio/video chat instead, this is a welcome addition, especially since WLM's text messaging was superior in every regard and Microsoft simply forced users to migrate to Skype. And yes, even through WLM service restore workarounds, things simply didn't work properly, hence Skype becoming the viable alternative within the same software environment.

[Cogfoxz]

Another vote in favour of this change.

Skype was a stab in the back for the many loyal users of Messenger/MSN/WLM. Mobile users have plenty of other alternatives to skype, but for PC users (who have been around the longest) no longer have any viable alternative. I can't say I'm a big fan of the layout, but it still looks like an improvement over the current design.

[kidLink]

The new version looks pretty good, but Skype need to focus on getting the simpler things right, like the list of contacts who appear to be online 24/7 but are really not.

Surely it's not hard to detect this? Every other IM client seems to have gotten it right.

[tribaljet]

The new version looks pretty good, but Skype need to focus on getting the simpler things right, like the list of contacts who appear to be online 24/7 but are really not.

Surely it's not hard to detect this? Every other IM client seems to have gotten it right.

Definitely. And I believe the bug you're refering to has been happening since 6.11 (perhaps earlier), and I sure don't believe there weren't reports about that.