Eager Skype users, test-drive the latest Skype 4 with brand new interface

Skype is an easy way of keeping in contact with other users, business colleagues and people situated outside of your office. You can choose to call them via your Skype phone, through a old-style message or via video conferencing, providing you've both got a fast broadband connection.

Skype 4, albeit as an early beta preview, has been made available to download. Although further features are planned for the future, the beta preview ships with a revamped user-interface that has been designed to complement the rise of faster broadband, assuming that end-users will be more likely to use video conferencing than text-based chat. We're not so keen. The interface is now huge and, if you're anything like us, we just use Skype to chat briefly with other users and for the occasional quick Skype-based International call.

Skype 4 link.