The expanded translation works with nine languages (Arabic, Brazilian Portugese, English, French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish). And since you're calling phone lines instead of other voice-over-internet users, you'll need some Skype credit to reach anyone who isn't using a toll-free number. Still, if you're willing to live on the edge, it's an important step.

There are more improvements if you don't care for these features. You can forward Skype calls to a traditional phone line if you won't have access to the app. It's also possible to capture and share video messages, whether or not a contact is online. You can better manage conversations, too -- it's possible to both mark conversations as read and introduce people on Skype by sharing contact info. It may take some time for these updates to launch in a polished release, but that patience may pay off.