Skype updates software to boost Facebook integration

VoIP firm Skype has announced new integration functionality with Facebook that will allow users to send and view instant messages to and from their social networking contacts directly from their desktop client.

Skype 5.5 Beta for Windows is now available to download. The application boasts a dedicated Facebook Contacts Tab, which enables users to see their social network friends list, as well as a News Feed so users can easily “like” their friends' status on Facebook without logging into site.

Improvements have also been made to Skype’s Call Phones section in the new client, making it easier for users to save any phone numbers they dial.

Microsoft decided to buy Skype for $8.5bn in May and today the deal was given approval to go ahead by the US Federal Trade Commission.

Microsoft will now start integrating assets from the VoIP provider with the rest of its business, while continuing to run Skype as a separate business division.

Under Microsoft’s leadership, the relationship between Facebook and Skype is only likely to improve.

Last October, Microsoft announced it would partner with Facebook to make search more social by allowing Bing users to see what their social networking contacts “like” in their search results.

Qi Lu, president of Microsoft's Online Services division, said at the time more tools and technologies would be released in the future as a result of the partnership.

Before Microsoft stepped in, Facebook was initially rumoured to be a potential buyer of Skype, so it will be no great surprise to see the two rolling out more functionality in the future designed to integrate the two services even more.

20 Jun 2011