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"Version 4.0 of Skype (download here) has arrived, with a host of new features including full-screen video calling and a revamped instant messaging system.  While a few new bells and whistles sound nice, what I\u2019m most interested in about the new Skype release is the claim that \u201Ccall quality is substantially improved.\u201D  \nAfter all, the main reason to use Skype is for free calls with other members or low-cost calls to landlines or international numbers.  But lately, the actual call quality has been extremely poor for this user, along with most people I know that use the service.  Echoes, multi-second interruptions, and dropped calls have been frequent, rendering the service virtually useless for business calls.  So how is Skype addressing call quality issues in the 4.0 release?\n\n\n\n\nAccording the company, \u201Cthe new audio codec achieves wideband audio quality using 50% less bandwidth than previously required. Moreover, it introduces super wideband audio that delivers crystal clear, richer and warmer sound to those using a compatible headset and a high quality broadband connection. The bandwidth manager interacts with the codec to adjust quickly to fluctuating bandwidth conditions to produce the most reliable sound.\u201D\nOf course, it will take a few days of usage to get a feel for whether or not this approach works, but here\u2019s to hoping it does.  After years of incredibly robust growth, Skype has finally cooled off to a more modest 26% revenue growth rate in its most recent quarter (it was growing at more than 60% annually less than a year ago).\nThe service now has more than 400 million members \u2013 my feeling is that if they improve call quality enough to the point that people start talking about the service positively again, it can lure back users like myself that have stopped using it for the SkypeOut business calls that generate revenue for the company.    \nSee Also: SKYPE TOOLBOX: 50+ Enhancements for Skype"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2009/02/03/skype-version-4/>