Skype Version 2.7 Available

For anyone who may find themselves needing or wanting to make an occasional international phone call or two, I would recommend Skype. Calls from one Skype-equipped computer to another (text chat, voice, or full video chat) are always free, no matter where the computers are located. But for me, I pay the $3 per month for unlimited calls from my computer to any phone in the US or Canada (as long as I’m in the US or Canada when originating the call). Those who know me understand that I have a very valid reason to call Canada all the time so this plan saves me quite a bit…especially when you compare it to the $0.60 /minute or so that Alltel would like to charge me to call Canada. Not that it’s any harder for them to get a call up there…anyway…I digress.

The $3 per month “SkypePro” account also gives me free Skype Voicemail, a discount on a “SkypeIn” number (an actual phone number you could give out that would ring to your Skype account) if I wanted one, the ability to transfer any incoming Skype calls that I miss to my cell phone (for free…less any cell phone minutes I might use), and…very cool…”Skype To Go.” Skype To Go allows me to call internationally from any landline that I designate at very low rates. So even when I’m away from my computer, I can call Canada for $0.02 per minute (I added the Skype To Go number to my “My Circle” numbers on Alltel, so…no minutes used there). Not too shabby…talk 30X as long for the same price!

But, again, I digress. The point of this post was simply to tell you that version 2.7 of Skype has been released. At a quick glance, I can see that it has immediately added all of my Address Book contacts as possible numbers to call, and there are a few other minor interface changes. If you already have Skype, choose “Check for Update” from the menu to update, or download it from here.