Cool Mac OS X App: Skype (beta) with SMS for Mac


Skype 2.5 Beta for the Mac is available with SMS messaging and 10-way conference calling, according to the Skype web site.

Skype for Mac OS X supports various kinds of communication, including computer-to-computer chat with individuals and groups, voice calling with video, conference calls, file transfers, computer-to-phone calls, phone-to-computer calls, voicemail, call forwarding, and now SMS.

Computer-to-computer chats and voice calls, conference calls with up to 5 people, and call forwarding to other Skype names are free, as is calling landline and mobile phones within the U.S. and Canada until the end of 2006. Everything else costs money, but the fees are usually low. The price for calling international phones varies depending on what country you call.

The new SMS messages feature is not free and not particularly cheap. A message sent from the U.S. to the U.S. costs 11.2¢, which is actually more expensive than messages sent from my T-Mobile Prepaid cell phone, which cost 10¢. It is, though, a lot easier and quicker to type an SMS message on a computer keyboard than on a cell phone keypad. Unfortunately, the messages you send (in the US) don't have a meaningful return address. I tried the new feature by sending a message to two friends; one of the messages arrived and one didn't. I was charged for both, but Skype gave me a refund for the messages that didn't reach their destination.

Posted: Thursday - November 16, 2006 at 01:42 AM          

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