Jan 27, 2011 14:37 GMT  ·  By

Skype 5.0.0.7980 Final for Mac OS X is now available for download, with a simpler interface, less whitespace, and more information about contacts and communications.

According to TUAW, the folks at Skype themselves made the big announcement, yet we couldn’t find a single blog post on the topic at the time of this writing.

Whomever tipped them off, Skype 5.0 is indeed Final and readily available for Mac OS X users with a minimalist interface with simpler views, and less whitespace, as noted by the Apple-centric blog.

The new Skype also displays information about contacts and communications in a more condensed manner, while the group video calling feature has been moved into the Premium subscription model, TUAW reports.

Video calling is included with customer support calls for US$4.99 per day. An $8.99 per month subscription is also available, while newcomers can test the service for free for a full week.

Initially released as a beta in November 2010, Skype 5 promised a brand new user interface, group video calling, an improved experience during network-compromised calls, and offline instant messaging.

A detailed overview about the new features was offered, with Skype putting the redesigned interface at the top of the list.

“The overhauled experience keeps you in contact with all people close to you, whether in business or privately,” Raul Liive explained last year. “Skype 5.0 for Mac unifies all your phone, SMS, video, and chat communication, one-to-one or with multiple people,” he wrote.

As for the Group Video Calling function, by far the most important addition in Skype 5, it enables groups of up to 10 participants to meet each other over video, making it perfect for “separated families to talk with each other or to host a business meetings from various offices,” the description said.

Skype users looking to benefit from this feature will need to have “a modern computer with a fast internet connection,” according to the company’s original announcement.

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