Skype with Facebook Integration & Group Video Calling

Skype 5.0

Just today, Skype announced the release of Skype 5.0 – the latest version of Skype for Windows which features Facebook integration and group video calling.

We’re excited to announce a brand new version of Skype for Windows, which will help bring you and your friends, family, and co-workers together like never before…

Facebook in Skype We’ve integrated the Facebook News Feed and Phonebook into Skype, making it easier to stay connected with the people and communities you care about. We’ve revitalized the look and feel, making voice and video calling, instant messaging, screen sharing, and file sharing intuitive and easy to navigate. And you can now bring even more of your family and friends together with the new group video calling feature available in open beta.

Here’s a video featuring Skype’s Head of Consumer Products Rick Osterloh, introducing Skype 5.0 and its new features.

With the Facebook integration in Skype 5.0, users can:

  • see your Facebook News Feed in Skype
  • post status updates that can be synced with your Skype mood message
  • comment and like friends’ updates and wall posts
  • call and SMS your Facebook friends on their mobile phones and landlines
  • make a free Skype-to-Skype call if your Facebook friend is also a Skype contact

Screenshots:

Facebook integration initial setup
Skype 5.0

Facebook requestion permission to access data
Skype 5.0

Facebook Newsfeed on Skype
Skype 5.0

The only feature I’ve tried so far is the Facebook integration. Once activated, the Facebook tab or section shows up as a separate window and be accessed by clicking on View > Facebook Updates. Users can post updates, leave comments, and like friend’s status updates and wall posts. For now, users can not upload photos, post video links, remove or share friend’s wall posts. Facebook friends who have their phone numbers on their profiles would have the SMS and Call buttons displayed on their Facebook updates (see 3rd screenshot).

NOTE: These new features are only available in Skype for Windows. Mac and Linux users will have to wait until Skype makes these features available for Mac and Linux versions.

Anyone else tried the new Skype 5.0 with Facebook integration and group video calling? How do you like the Facebook integration? How about the group video calling feature? What other features would you like to see added to the future version of Skype? Please share your thoughts.

This post may contain affiliate links that allow us to earn commissions at no additional cost to you. We are reader-supported so when you buy through the affiliate links, you are also helping or supporting us. 

4 Comments

  1. @Justin – I’ve been planning on getting a MagicJack myself but never got to doing it. I think I’m gonna try it one of these days. Yes, the Facebook integration is limited like I mentioned in the post. I’m sure they’re gonna make some improvements in the near future.

  2. I barely use Skype myself, I have a magicjack and all my calls are free in the Country from my PC anyway. I did test out the Skype 5 with Facebook integration and it only lets you see your messages and look for phone numbers for your friends. Its integration is very limited, you can’t actually post to wall over Facebook with Skype and maybe invite someone to call you. Still, if your closest friends and family are on Facebook this makes it easier to find and add them if they have Skype accounts.

  3. @Vincent – For now, the integration was designed for Facebook to be integrated into Skype, not the other way around. Maybe they’ll come up with something that you mentioned soon.

  4. I first thought that we can link our Facebook and Skype account, and people without Skype account can still sign in with their Facebook account. This way we can call any of our Facebook friends regardless whether they have a Skype account.

    The so-called Facebook integration for now is disappointing. To me at least.

Leave a Reply to Vincent Chow Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

JaypeeOnline