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Skype launches group video calling

By: , IntoMobile
Sunday, January 9th, 2011 at 12:01 PM

After bringing video call support to the iPhone, Skype is going one step further to improve its service. Their latest gig is group video calling, which the company has been demonstrating for the last couple of days at the CES in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately this isn’t a mobile story at least not at the moment. However, it’s fair to argue group video calls are coming to Skype mobile clients in the near future, as well.

Price wise, group video calling is available as part of the new Skype Premium package which offers the capability together with access to live chat customer support as a day pass for $4.99 or as a subscription service for $8.99 per month. Those who sign up for group video calling in the first month will get a 33% discount on 3 and 12-month subscriptions with new users receiving a 7-day free trial. Additionally, there’s a 25% discount off an HD webcam.

To start a group video call, only one user needs to have the group calling account, whereas other participants need to be on at least the Skype version 5.0 of Mac and windows.

About The Author

Dusan Belic

Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.

  • Anonymous

    Are you sure this is available for Mac? It says on the Skype site that it can only run on Windows.

    • http://www.facebook.com/dusan.belic Dusan Belic

      You can participate in a group video call with a Mac – at least that’s what Skype said in a press release. I’m not sure you can be a host, though.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LOSE6Q7WAHTOFJXWTSJNGXVBFY Angelo

    Finally … I was waiting for this feature for year.