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.

04 Feb 2009