Skype Begins Testing 4.0

By Digital Trends Staff Published July 24, 2014

Skype Begins Testing 4.0

Reuters has reported that Skype has begun public testing of its Skype 4.0 software, which is intended to make video a more vital part of the communications process. Instead of being in a small corner, the video can now be full screen, and with a much greater resolution under the new software. To be fair, video calling isn’t new on Skype – it’s offered it since 2005 – but doing it this way marks a step forward, largely because 28% of all calls on the service are video calls.

Skype 4.0 uses better compression to allow excellent voice conversations with 2Kbps bandwidth and video on a 6Kbps connection. However, for a good resolution video call, a 90Kbps connection is ideal. Skype president Josh Silverman told Reuters:

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"Skype users are communicating in many different modes — often at the same time. We thought it was time for software to take that into account. Now video is really bringing together all those modes of communication."

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