Skype taps into consumer market

Skype has included a range of consumer-friendly features into version 2.5

VoIP provider Skype has said that it will target mainstream consumers to extend its user base beyond the 100 million subscriber milestone which the firm reached last week.

"I've seen an enormous change in our audience in the past three months," said Alistair Shrimpton, Skype's UK country manager.

"There's been a switch from the 'more geeky' user into the mainstream. I can see that in many areas. For example we currently have a Skype bay that's launched at PC World with Skype certified products in it. 

"It just appeared. We didn't ask for that. We also have Skype products selling in stores like Argos." 

To tap into the wider market, the company has included a range of consumer-friendly features into Skype 2.5, a beta version of which is available to download today.

"Every time we do a new release we ask how we can make this easier. In Skype 2.5 we've simplified the registration allowing users to create a Skype account in one click," said Shrimpton.

Skype has added easy dialling features so that users can click a flag rather than typing in country codes. The new software also monitors call trends and suggests dialling options.

However, the biggest addition is designed to improve the quality of calls for less technical users.

"Sometimes you might get a bad quality call because your broadband connection is bad and you haven't got enough bandwidth or because you're running too many programs on your desktop and using too much processor power," explained Shrimpton.

"Call Quality Management allows Skype to adjust and manage your computer environment and internet connection and give you tips on what you can do to make the call quality better."

Skype 2.5 adds payment and top-up options within the client, rather than through the Skype.com website.

Users will also have the chance to share contact groups with their friends, view their Microsoft Outlook contacts and send text messages.