Skype

Freeware; see text.

Current Version: 2.7.0.330 (February 14, 2008)

Skype is a free program for Mac OS X (as well as Windows, Linux and Pocket PC) that lets you make free calls to your friends all over the world. After you download, register, and install, you plug in your headset, speakers or USB phone to start calling your friends. The calls have good sound quality and are secured with end-to-end encryption. The optional paid SkypeOut service lets you make calls to old-fashioned phone numbers all around the world. Additionally, Skype allows you to transfer files and participate in plain, old-fashioned instant messaging as well.

Version 2.7.0.330 makes a huge number of bugfixes (including some that bring better Leopard compatibility) and makes the following additional changes:

• Improvement: added NAT-PMP support
• Improvement: added uPnP support
• Improvement: added Authenticated Proxy support
• Bugfix: 3-4 second delay when hanging up video call
• Bugfix: sometimes Skype crashed when applying changes in Edit Profile window
• Bugfix: "Add to Contacts" command was not working for 1-on-1 chats in history view
• Bugfix: "Add to list" button was cut off in Start Conference and Add Users to Chat windows on Tiger
• Bugfix: Safari 3.1 (4525.13) chats time-name were getting cut off.
• Bugfix: Abnormal exit on declining two sent files.
• Bugfix: Add and remove buttons were cut off in Send Contacts window on Leopard
• Bugfix: Add to Contacts command didn't work in the context menu of the history list
• Bugfix: Address Book phone numbers with custom tags were not shown in Skype
• Bugfix: Call Transfer menu not updating when new contacts were added
• Bugfix: Chats were loosing their topics
• Bugfix: crash/hangup on skype credit change when old SMS chats open for long time
• Bugfix: default call window height was too small
• Bugfix: do not add chats without activity timestamp to event history
• Bugfix: fix for delayed sms delivery notifications
• Bugfix: flag icons not showing in upper case
• Bugfix: Freeze with lots of Address Book contacts (>3000)
• Bugfix: history entries became blank when right-clicked on Leopard
• Bugfix: Improvements to audio sync
• Bugfix: it was not possible to use the context menus of conference call participants when the call was muted or on hold
• Bugfix: it was possible to change the value of sound level indicators in conference calls
• Bugfix: Leading 0 was removed when user tried to call to Italian landline number - they need leading 0
• Bugfix: missed events badge was missing from chat drawer after Skype restart
• Bugfix: outgoing calls that went to voicemail didn't have icons in the history view
• Bugfix: own voice level indicator was still moving when conference call was muted
• Bugfix: Skype crashed after "Delete all SMS Messages" was pressed
• Bugfix: sometimes Skype got stuck in the login process when Address Book integration was enabled
• Bugfix: sometimes window artifacts appeared when having two simultaneous calls
• Bugfix: Status does not reset correctly after screensaver triggers away if Set my status to Away when inactive for 0 minutes was set
• Bugfix: strange sound start happening on end of the call (Apple Bug ID# 5796436)
• Bugfix: when being signed in on at least two Macs and answering a call on one machine, then ringing didn't not stop on the second machine
• Bugfix: When chats are closed after draging them around, wrong chat gets activated
• Bugfix: when placing a call, then sometimes the word "Button" was briefly displayed instead of the phone number
• Bugfix: Word wrap in Public chat settings window
• Bugfix: Workaround for strange large number startTimestamp on some chats (preventing chat history links displaying)
• Bugfix: Yellow alert were hiding chat topics quite often.
• Change: Replaced SkypeIn with Online Number
• Change: increased minimum size of SkypeOut Caller Window
• Change: New User Registration Window: By default, eMail notifications checked
• Change: pop-up dialog to enable or disable Address Book integration
• Change: sometimes duration of some calls was displayed as 1193 hours in the call history
• Change: Sound event for contact coming online is now off by default
• Skype API: BTN_RELEASED NO clears quickfilter field now (previously removed the last character only)

Skype operates on a peer-to-peer model, wherein users of the Skype network help route other users' calls around the globe, which may consume your bandwidth unexpectedly if the conditions are right. See the Skype Wikipedia article for more information.