Over the past eight months 1.2 million Skype users have participated in the Skype for Windows 4.0 beta program (stage 1, stage 2, stage 3). During this beta period, not only current user feedback was sought but also feedback from new users installing Skype for the first time. The goal was to provide a user interface that was more intuitive while encouraging users to go beyond simply voice calls to experience and use chat and video conversations.

Today Skype is announcing the Gold release of Skype 4.0 for Windows. From the download page:

We’ve built this brand new Skype so you can have the conversations that make a difference to you, every day. It’s easy to use, plus step-by-step guides help you get started.

While most of the new features have been revealed during the beta period, Skype’s marketing will focus on three key features:

• New user interface; with over 25% of Skype-to-Skype calls involving video this new release has been designed with a focus on improving the video call user experience.
• Improved call quality: Skype 4.0 for Windows incorporates Skype’s new SILK codec whose features are discussed in a separate post today. Bottom line is a crisp, crystal clear audio experience, yet only half the network bandwidth of other codecs is required to support a voice call.
• Bandwidth management: a new bandwidth manager has been developed with the goal of improving overall call performance by adapting, in real time, to degraded or low speed network conditions, such as those caused by excessive packet loss and/or jitter.

The new user interface also has taken into account factors that encourage users to explore Skype beyond voice calling. Incorporating beta user feedback Skype has found that the new UI is driving up adoption rates for Instant Messaging, file transfer and video. When you open a contact window launching a voice, chat or video conversation requires a single click on the respective voice (“Call”), chat or video button. The associated text pane tracks not only chat messages but also voice and video call detail information (launch time, end time) as well as file transfer information. And, as in the past with chat, the entire record is all archived on your local PC for future recall.

Other features: You can choose to view your Skype activity in one larger screen or in individual “conversation” windows. During a call a drop down menu on the “call audio control bar” provides quick access to making any necessary audio or video settings. Single click buttons allow you to quickly change oe add conversation modes to adapt to the context of the conversation. A wizard provides assistance with testing audio and video settings. During their testing they found that these features drove new users to more quickly experience chat and video while there was an increase in usage of these modes by legacy users.

On-the-fly the bandwidth manager can adjust both video and audio transmission by making real time adjustments to parameters such as video resolution, frames-per-second or audio bandwidth. to ensure an ability to maintain a basic level of communication while enduring these conditions. Once again the goal is to improve the overall user experience with no user intervention required.

Two changes;

• The SkypeMe! status button has been removed as a result of its tendency to be used for spamming and other forms of unwanted calls. (Of course you also still have the option to only allow callers in your Contact list to call you.). Along with this Skype has introduced “abuse reporting” which is monitored by Skype personnel for dealing with undesirable calling activity.
• While you can still participate in Public Chat sessions launched or joined from Skype 3.8, there is still no ability to launch or join a Public Chat from Skype 4.0 for Windows. This is my primary complaint about the new user interface. We have had a Skype 4.x Public Chat discussion ongoing since May, 2007; it has provided an interesting dialogue amongst Skype users and Skype personnel, including some feedback on features in Skype 4.0. And is has supported many other informal “water fountain” conversations amongst special interest communities of Skype users. Skype for Windows Product Manager Mike Bartlett claimed yesterday, during an interview, that Skype was reviewing how to embark on “public conversations” in today’s messaging world where services such as Twitter and Friend Feed also provide ongoing dialogues. However, Skype Public Chat has its own “space” in terms of user community; it needs to be brought back as soon as possible.

Over the next few weeks, with more experience using Skype 4.0 for Windows we may cover some features in more detail. In the meantime you can download it here. We look forward your feedback in the Comments. Release Notes are here.

Yesterday Skype went past 16 million concurrent users around 1830 GMT. It will be interesting to monitor both the concurrent user number and Hudson Barton’s “real user” indicator as Skype 4.0 for Windows installations grow over the next couple of weeks..

Of course, the best news is that Skype-to-Skype calls (including multi-party calls), chat and video calling remain free. And there are calling plan subscriptions available for low cost calling to landlines worldwide.

Other Posts:

• Mike Bartlett Discusses Skype 4.0 Beta on Squawk Box
• Skype’s videos about the 4.0 beta limited release
• Mike Bartlett Comments on Skype 4.0 User Feedback
• Mike Bartlett on Skype 4.0 Beta 1 Feedback

About two weeks ago Skype launched a new type of beta … one that actually will end at some point in the reasonably near future but that is also a major effort to incorporate user feedback while trialing some new concepts. As mentioned in my previous posts about this beta, this is not a replacement for your current Skype 3.8 or earlier installation in mission critical situations but rather Skype wants to trial this version with a broader audience than simply their very dedicated set of designated outside beta testers worldwide.

On Monday Skype’s Product Manager for Windows, Mike Bartlett put out a post, 10 days later …, commenting on the first ten days of feedback from users. (I’m a little late on following up on this as I’m supposed to be on vacation this week.) To quote Mike:

We’ve had some very positive feedback from a lot of people on the new way of working, and that’s encouraging as it seems we’re starting to solve the problems that we set out to solve. However, it’s very understandable some of you used to using Skype on a regular basis have been a bit frustrated about not being able to work with Skype the way they are used to.

Key points:

1. In beta 2 they will introduce a “Compact” mode where users can access their main Skype activity through a a more traditionally sized window that does not take a large portion of the user’s desktop. From my own experience I like the ability to detach conversations into separate windows, if desired; however, the right side “pane” left over when there is no focus on a Conversation, is wasted desktop space. Perhaps a sliding window pane addition, much like the one that comes with the JWire Hotspot Finder, would be more appropriate. In this case when you focus on a Conversation listed under the Conversations tab but not already open in a detached window or initiate a new conversation with a Contact , the wider conversation pane would slide out and become detachable, if desired. And using this feature should be a user selected option. On the other hand I find the new Conversations tab feature in the left pane to be very useful (a concept apparently adopted from the current Skype for Mac) for readily accessing my conversations with individual contacts..
2. One of the primary issues Skype wants to address is how the video is displayed in a more user friendly, more obvious, yet flexible manner. Basically Mike describes ways to both detach and resize the video in the current beta but also mentions we can expect further enhancements in beta 2. From my own personal experience, Skype video looks best in a minimum 640 x 480 window (available with Skype 3.6 and later) due to its clarity and video quality but with Skype 4.0 beta, as a user, you can determine your own optimum video window size and detach a video session into a separate resizable video window.
3. And for all those frustrated Skype for Mac users out there, expect something later this summer that incorporates feedback from the Skype for Windows beta experience.

One question: does the appearance of the “Add people” button in the detached video window (see Mike’s post) foretell a future beta that incorporates multi-party video?

Yes, there are still many “details” being suggested; I’m sure Mike’s team is looking at them all and especially looking for commonality amongst the many users providing feedback. We have to give credit to Mike and his team for introducing as a trial such a radical UI change to try out with the wider user community. If nothing else, it has demonstrated the passion and enthusiasm of the Skype user community while providing an opportunity for receiving back their input.

As I have said repeatedly, this is a beta; it’s not for any of your mission critical Skype installations as it still lacks some features of the released Skype 3.8. But it’s certainly worthwhile installing it on a secondary PC, trying out the various features available and providing feedback.

Once again, this is a beta — it’s not the final released version — changes, incorporating where feasible and practical the consensus of Skype’s user base, will happen. On the other hand, as one who has administered software beta programs in the past when “beta” meant truly trying new concepts while getting user feedback over a limited time period, Skype is running a true beta program for Skype 4.0, not an “infinite” beta as seems to have become the norm for many web services providers these days. Apparently we can expect a second beta release towards the end of the summer, with the objective of a final release later this fall.

Hat tip to Andy at VoIP Watch, who is also supposed to be on vacation this week, for pointing out Mike’s post.

We reported earlier that Mike Bartlett, Skype for Windows Product Manager, would be the guest on Friday’s Squawk Box. With 15 fifteen participants, Mike answered questions ranging from features of the new Skype for Windows 4.0 Beta; plans and objectives for the beta program, the challenges of trying to launch concurrent (Windows, Mac, Linux) versions, interoperation with other services (such as iotum’s Free Conference Call service that hosted the call) and other issues related to the evolution of Skype.

Three key points:

• The Skype for Windows 4.0 beta program is unique in that they are seeking out user responses to the challenges of getting new users started readily while leaving the flexibility and scalability issues power users encounter. For instance, while the Beta 1 client takes up a full desktop — largely to get user reaction — there will probably end up being a way to “hide” the conversation content pane, leaving the left hand conversation management pane but they want feedback from all beta participants on the full desktop. As a result we will see several phases to this beta program with a final release date largely dependent on the beta program feedback (and they’re getting lots).
• New users are randomly being presented to with the beta to get the feedback from actual new users on how they adopt Skype. They want to improve on the adoption rate by new users; abandonment is an issue they are certainly conscious of. (Or does it help to answer the question as to, why, with over 300 million reported account registrations, are the ongoing usage rates in the range of 30 to 35 million “real users“?)
• Providing real time communications infrastructure is most efficiently handled when Skype can write in the native environment for each of the Windows, Mac and Linux platforms. As a result they do not want to compromise the performance through using a cross platform environment but rather want to provide user experiences that users of each environment are accustomed to. Yet this diversity approach to each platform allows the team for one platform to pick up features and experiences from other platforms. For instance the conversation management user interface of Skype for Window 4.0 beta was picked up from experience with the Skype for Mac user interface with its “slide-out” drawers.

There were many more issues discussed; go over to Saunderslog.com’s “Squawk Box June 20 – Skype 4.0″ and listen to the complete interview.

Once again, if you wish to participate in the Skype 4.0 for Windows beta program, read our earlier post for download information but also read the caveats.

Caution: Skype 4.0 for Wiindows Beta 1 is about improving the User Interface but it is not a replacement for your ongoing Skype conversations on your primary PC and should only be used on a secondary PC to provide user feedback.

While over the years, over 300 million have figured out how to download and install Skype, it’s become apparent that, in the end, it’s the user experience that will drive more massive Skype adoption. Finding those initial contacts, getting the speaker/mic working properly, ensuring you have a good Internet connection and determining what hardware is optimal for a good Skype experience is all part of Skype’s ongoing research and development. And perhaps the most important of these is having a user interface that “delights the user”. Certainly new Skype President Josh Silverman has indicated this as a primary goal for Skype.

In working towards this end Skype has made available an early beta version of Skype 4.0 for Windows with the primary goal of making Skype easier:

• for new users who are just starting up with Skype
• for ongoing users to manage, archive and recall their Skype conversations
• to improve the quality of certain aspects of conversations but especially with how video is displayed during video calls.

Check out the videos provided by Skype that Phil has posted to get a more dynamic overview. A key to understanding release 1 of the Skype 4.0 beta is that its development is at a stage where the Skype product team needs some outside user feedback. As a result they expect the Skype 4.0 beta activity to last through the summer prior to releasing for general use in, say, September, 2008 (a speculative release date, not an official one).

On the other hand at this stage it is an EARLY beta and is missing some features available in the current Skype 3.8 for Windows client. As a result I recommend that you only try it on a secondary PC while keeping Skype 3.8 on your primary PC used for Skype conversations, especially if Skype is mission critical to your conversations. From Product Manager Mike Bartlett’s post today:

We’re sharing this beta with you a little earlier than normal because we know it’s a big change, and sometimes change can take some getting used to. We’re going to spend the whole summer listening to your feedback and making changes so that when we do launch the final version, we’ll make sure it’s perfect. Because we’re releasing it early, a few little things aren’t available in today’s beta: full history and contact groups are two examples.

I can add Call Transfer and PayPal integration as two more 3.8 features missing from this Beta 1. Check out the full Release Notes, identifying the missing features. Via a “Contact Customer Support” Help menu item you can provide your feedback where they’re specifically requesting your “comment, feedback or frustration”.

If you’re into beta testing; if you have a secondary or back-up PC on which you can try this out, give it a try (download here). There is going to be a learning curve to get familiar with the new interface — keep in mind that, with Skype 4.0, it’s more about the user experience than the technology (although technology performance bugs should also be reported). As the beta releases progress we’ll advise you when it’s ready to try out as your primary Skype client. And, as we get more experience with it, we’ll be posting our comments.

Around the blogosphere:

Andy Abramson: VoIP Watch: Skype 4.0 Beta Comes To Life

As a basis for making new revenue, it shows me that Skype is looking beyond just selling cheap minutes. For now think of 4.0 as a canvas, that’s only been outlined. The real version is weeks away and likely will incorporate more feedback from users.

Om Malik: GigaOm: Video Makes Skype 4.0 Grow Bigger, Wider

The real reason for the redesign, however, is Skype Video, which desperately needed a new layout because it requires an ease-of-use that eludes the current client. As I pointed out a few weeks ago, video communication (which accounts for about 28 percent of total Skype calls) has been one of the fastest-growing features on Skype, thanks to the easy availability of built-in cameras, especially in devices used by mobile workers.

Dan York: Disruptive Telephony: Skype 4.0 seriously disrupts the Skype UI – is this a good thing? Dan hits on the core of this beta program:

I’ll also be curious to see how well Skype balances “simplifying” the user experience for new users while maintaining the functionality that “power users” have come to expect. It’s a tough balancing act and it will be interesting to see how Skype does.

New York Times: A Redesign at Skype (registration required)

Sten Tamkivi: siekatsu: Skype 4.0 beta 1 is out! (Full disclosure: Sten is Skype’s General Manager of its Estonia operations which includes the Skype development teams.)