14 DAY TRIAL // Skype yesterday announced the release of the first beta for Skype 2.5, the latest version of the VoIP application, which allows anyone with an Internet connection to make free worldwide voice and video calls.
The release of the first beta comes shortly after the VoIP provider announced the final agreements for worldwide distribution rights to license potentially hundreds of thousands of "musical works" as ring-tones.
The new licenses will allow Skype to distribute master ring-tones from recording artists affiliated to Warner Music Group, which can now be downloaded by Skype users in the US, UK, Ireland, France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Poland.
Together with Skype 2.5 beta, the company has also introduced an early preview of Skypecasts, which are live, moderated conversations allowing groups of up to 100 people from anywhere in the world to talk to one another.
Skypecasts are moderated by the 'host' who is able to mute, eject or pass the virtual microphone to participants when they wish to speak. Hosting or participating in a Skypecast is completely free.
Niklas Zennstr?m, CEO Skype, said that the latest applications is the result of the feedback received from users and that it aims to simplify communications even more, regardless of the speakers' location.
"With the latest version of Skype's award-winning software we've listened to our customers and made it even easier for communities of people to connect and easily talk to each other for free," Niklas Zennstr?m, CEO Skype, said.
Skype 2.5 Beta has been certified by Softpedia as being 100% CLEAN and is available here.