Today we’ve released an update to Skype for Windows. The second beta of Skype 5.0 brings a number of changes both outside and in – most importantly, you can now make group video calls with up to 10 people. It also welcomes in a fresh new look, as well as increased stability and better quality when making group video calls. Read on to find out more, or download it now.

Make group video calls with up to 10 people

You can now use Skype to make group video calls* with up to 10 people – letting you bring even more of your family, friends or business together, even if you’re cities or continents apart.

Note that everyone in a group video call now needs to be running this version, so if your friends, family or colleagues are using Beta 1, they’ll have to upgrade before you can include them in group video calls.

A refreshed user interface

You’ll notice that the new-look Skype is sleeker, neater and crisper than before, and we’re proud of the work our interface designers have done to refine and mature the interface for this version. We’ve also added Skype Home, where you can follow your contacts' mood messages, set your profile picture and mood message, receive account notifications and learn more about using Skype.

Better stability and quality

We’ve made improvements to call quality when making group video calls, as well as fixed a number of bugs affecting stability, so your calling experience should be smoother than before. This version also includes automatic call recovery, which should help automatically reconnect Skype calls that are interrupted due to network problems. We’ve also made a number of other housekeeping fixes since the first beta – but please bear in mind that this is still a beta version, and so there may be the odd bug remaining.

* Group video calling is currently available as a free trial. For group video calls, everyone in the group video call will need Skype 5.0 Beta 2 for Windows.

Back in April, I encouraged everyone to respond to the French authorities’ consultations on net neutrality. Thank you very, very much to all of you Internet users, software developers, and other good people who spoke out in favour of the open Internet.

Late July, French Minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet sent her report to the French Parliament (not public yet… suspense). Just before her, as summer approached, the French telecoms regulator ARCEP had produced ‘initial policy directions on Internet and network neutrality’ which included some really good proposals such as the following:

• “[a provider of] Internet access ... must be obligated, in accordance with the legal provisions in effect, to furnish end users with the ability to:
  • send and receive the content of their choice;
  • use the services and run the applications of their choice;
  • connect the hardware and use the programmes of their choice, provided they do not harm the network.”
• “the traffic management practices that ISPs employ to ensure Internet access [must] remain exceptional and comply with the general principles of relevance, proportionality, efficiency, transparency and non discrimination.”
• “A connection to the Internet must be provided with a sufficient and transparent quality of service. To guarantee this, the Authority is launching sector-specific efforts to qualify the minimum quality of service parameters for Internet access, and is working to implement specific indicators.”
• and among other good positions, ARCEP specifically remarked on Skype use that “In particular, even in data offers that are not qualified as “Internet access,” it does not seem legitimate to block voice over IP services (such as Skype) since they do not consume more bandwidth than other services that are currently accessible via mobile networks.” Hear hear.

So: thanks to ARCEP for their encouraging suggestions, and we hope they adopt them formally very soon so that French Internet users can benefit from access to all of the Internet, not a subset of it as they do now because of the French mobile operators’ restrictions (did I mention that you are forbidden to use VoIP, newsgroups and P2P on the iPad in France (see here in footnotes and here under ‘mentions légales’). That’s where the emoticon comes in handy).

Now we can do a little bit more to protect the open Internet elsewhere in the world, by responding to similar consultations by the UK and by the EU authorities.

In the UK, some of the mobile operators restrict Internet access in major ways, either prohibiting VoIP and Skype usage, or requiring users to pay a surcharge. Some also forbid the use of online audio, video, streaming, peer-to-peer apps and services – in short, they don’t let you enjoy most of the Internet. The UK communications regulator Ofcom has produced a discussion paper on ‘traffic management and net neutrality’ – which does not seem to consider all these restrictions a problem at all - and is asking for comments by 9 September.

In Brussels, the European Commission is asking for comments by 30 September on its (promising) ‘public consultation on the open Internet and net neutrality in Europe’ (PDF). On the basis of the response, the Commission will make proposals to the European Parliament by the end of the year on how to protect the open Internet. That will impact all 500 million Europeans and how they can use and enjoy the Internet. As was explained by the Romanian telecoms regulator who is encouraging people to respond to the Commission, “It is important to have as many respondents … as possible to ensure that their interests will be reflected in the regulations the Commission might propose after analysing the consultation results”.

If, like us all at Skype, you care passionately about ensuring that (in Europe and elsewhere in the world) the Internet remains the unique and wonderful tool for freedom of expression and communication, choice and innovation, and the free flow of information that we have come to cherish over the past twenty years, it is imperative that you make your voice heard by responding to these consultations: here for the UK consultation, and here for the EU consultation.

Let’s get proper protections of the open Internet in place, where we Internet users – not anyone else - choose what we do online, and where ‘innovation without having to ask for permission’ is the norm. If you need inspiration on how to respond, look at the ARCEP suggestions mentioned above and at the petition for an open Internet in Europe. A little bit more effort and we can make sure we will always enjoy a free and open Internet – let’s do it.

Sakuwaha joins Le Havre FC Lorient have sent striker Jonas Sakuwaha to Ligue 2 club Le Havre on season-long loan.
Sakuwaha who played in 17 matches last season (in all competitions), was having trouble finding a place in the Lorient first-team this season, but is expected to make an impact with a notourious elevator club (constantly promoted [...]...(read more)

The draw for the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League Group stage took place in Monaco on Thursday afternoon. FC Basel were drawn into Group E alongside 4-time champions, and last years runners-up FC Bayern Munich.
The other two teams in that group are AS Roma of Italy, who last appeared in this competition two seasons ago, winning [...]...(read more)

under 17 The Ghana U 17 national side is expected in Zambia on Thursday to face the teenage ‘Tupolopolo’ on Sunday at Woodlands Stadium.
Zanaco’s opponents Haras El Hadoud in this Saturday’s Group B clash in Lusaka have stepped up gamesmanship as the North Africans have not revealed their itinerary.
Zambia U 17 have stepped up preparations for [...]...(read more)

Emmanuel Mayuka will start the match on the bench for Young Boys as they travel to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham Hotspurs. Young Boys go into the match with a 3-2 advantage on aggregate, but are in a perilous position after having conceded two away goals last week.
Young Boys hope to join fellow Swiss [...]...(read more)

Germany
Carl Zeiss Jena hosted FC Bayern Munich II, the reserve club of the european powerhouse, in 3. Liga action on the weekend. Moses Sichone, who has featured in all 5 matches this season for Carl Zeiss, played another 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw.
Maximillian Haas, the FC Bayern first-team bench player, opened the scoring in [...]...(read more)

Fwayo's Basel need to avoid losing to progress Fwayo Tembo’s FC Basel will be keen to score an away goal on Tuesday night in Moldova
Having won the first-leg of their Champions League qualifier with FC Sheriff 1-0, FC Basel will be confident of progressing to the group stages of the competition.
The Zambian winger who started in [...]...(read more)

Kalaba was a key Chipolopolo member in Angola ZAMBIA midfielder Rainford Kalaba was last evening involved in a road traffic accident on the Ndola-Kapiri Mposhi highway. He escaped with minor injuries but one of the passengers is suspected to have broken an arm.
Kalaba, who is on national team coach Dario Bonetti’s roster for next weekend’s 2012 [...]...(read more)

Chansa has been ommitted from the Chipolopolo squad Isaac Chansa reminded national team selectors about his quality and credentials when he scored thunderbolt in Orlando Pirates 2-1 win over Santos in Sunday’s MTN Top 8 quarterfinal tie at Orlando Stadium.
Chansa drived down the left flank before cutting inside and unleashing a beautiful shot from just outside [...]...(read more)

The Ndola stadium is on course It is two years now after the demise of Zambia’s third republican President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa. The man who was a champion crusader against corruption had no concern for crooks or criminals. In remembering the late State Counsel, Zambianfootball.net’s Musonda ‘Ba Muzo’ Chibulu last week took time to have [...]...(read more)

Mbola is in England Chipolopolo left back Emmanuel Mbola is finally in England attending trials as earlier reported by the Zambian media on Monday.
The Zamfoot Crew spoke with people in England and Lubumbashi who confirmed that the 17 year old is finally in England.
The source saw the Kabwe-born full back at Arsenal’s Colney training ground and [...]...(read more)

Will introduce the ZISS website - a Zambian think tank. (Zambia Institute of Strategic Studies) - website. He will also discuss eduation in Zambia: what happened to NorTeC, ZIT, the Trades Schools, the Nursing Schools, the Teacher Training Colleges, the Agricultural Colleges and Evelyn Hone College? What next? Richard Mbewe | Zambia | Education | Nursing Schools | James Mwape...(read more)

Why can't you and I go to Medina or Mecca even if we wanted to? Because we are the so called "infidels". Question: Are religion and politics more or less intertwined today than they have ever been? On this show, Morning in America, we look at issues that matters and affects our way of life. This is a straight talk, not for the timid people. We'll look at the proposed mosque near ground zero in New York City, the Presidents free falling approval ratings, San Francisco morality, Arizona...(read more)

Jacob Mulenga Chipolopolo striker Jacob Mulenga dream night at Glagow’s Parkhead in the Europa Cup first leg tie with Celtic lasted only for 17 minutes after he picked up an injury.
The 26 year old who is one of the 20 foreign based summoned by FAZ for the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Comoros had [...]...(read more)