After 5 months in alpha and beta testing, VoIP leader Skype has released its 1.4 version for Linux, codenamed Panacea.

It provides superior voice quality compared with the 1.3 version plus numerous new features and bug fixes including:

• Chat toolbar with Add People, Send File(s) to Chat, History and Leave Chat buttons.
• Confirmation dialog for Leave Chat button.
• Drag-and-drop files to chat input box to send files to chat.
• Drag-and-drop files to individual contacts in chat or contact list to send files.
• Drag-and-drop users from contact list into chat input box to send contacts.
• Interface language choice in Options based on translation files available (restart required)
• Tooltips for emoticons in the chat window.

Bug fixes include:

• Add a minimum size to Send Contacts/Create Conference/Add Chat Members window.
• Don’t open two call windows when pressing enter on Call Ordinary Phones.
• Automatically rename incoming files if they already exist.
• Disable Emoticons button in Chat Windows when Emoticons have been disabled.

Complete details available in Skype website.

Despite these new developments, Skype’s parent company eBay admitted encountering some problems to make this service profitable and complement its online auction business.

Skype was acquired primarily to allow eBay sellers and buyers to communicate without incurring additional expenses, expand overseas market, and get a foothold in the communications market. However, Skype failed miserably to meet the expectations.

As a result, it had to write down the value of Skype by about 46 percent or $1.43 billion off its $3.1 billion acquisition cost in 2005. Moreover, Skype co-founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis had stepped down due to this dismal performance.

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