Skype is the sort of software that is very cool, but I don't seem to get that much use out of it. And, though I don't know many people who use it regularly, the Skype team continues to pile on useful communication technologies for those who do use it all the time. The latest version for Mac—2.8—is out now, and adds screen sharing and Skype Access among other improvements.

The first major new addition, screen sharing, lets users share all or part of their screen to any other Skype user that's running a video-capable version. If the other user is running version 2.8 for Mac or version 4.1 for Windows, though, both users can even collaborate across platforms. This feature works a lot like iChat's screen sharing features, and like iChat, you can continue to chat while the feature is active.

The other new major addition, a Mac-only feature for now, is Skype Access. This feature lets you log into for-pay WiFi access points and use your Skype credit to pay for it. Unlike most pay systems, which charge hourly or daily rates, you'll pay just 19? a minute—so you just pay for only the time you use. As long as the service provider is compatible with Skype Access, you won't need to register for any other service—Skype 2.8 will recognize compatible hotspots, sign you in, and the credit is deducted automatically from your Skype account.

This is what a typical Ars writer—in this case science writer Chris Lee—has going on at any giving moment... dozens of windows, apps, browser tabs—and on occasion, Skype.

Along with these changes are some other minor, but useful, new features. If you're a heavy Skype user, and have lots of active chats going at once, you can re-sort chats in the chat drawer. You can also assign four different priority levels (none, low, medium, high) to each chat, "so you can deal with the most important messages first," according to Skype's Peter Parkes. And, if you want to add multiple people to a chat, its much easier to do so with "Quick Add"—simply click the Add button, start typing a contact's name, and click the name from the list of possible matches.

In addition to the chat management comes a few other tweaks for working with contacts. Skype 2.8 supports profile pictures (aka buddy icons) up to 256 x 256px; new to the Mac version is a profile picture picker; profile pictures can be hidden by default in contact requests (in case someone has a racy or otherwise unpleasant icon); and you can add your own notes about each contact in the profile window—especially handy for business contacts.

Also, Skype has added a "mood message" pseudo-chat—Parkes said, "it's a bit like Twitter, but don’t tell them we said that"—that posts a message every time one of your contacts changes their "mood message" (aka status). If you type a message here, it will change your mood message. It is a bit like Twitter, except it doesn't work with Twitter—only your Skype contacts. If it had Twitter integration, it would make it more of a killer feature in our opinion.

Skype for Mac 2.8 also includes over 120 bug fixes; adds more than a dozen improvements to existing features; adds Estonian, Polish, and Brazilian Portuguese to the already impressive list of localizations; and implements the recent additions to the Skype API. The 2.8 betas had been solid performers, and in our admittedly limited testing, the final 2.8 release is just as solid. If you're a regular Skype user, or just thinking of trying the software out, you can download Skype for Mac 2.8 now for the low, low cost of absolutely free. Even if you regularly use another chat client—here in Orbiting HQ, Adium is quite popular—Skype's recent feature additions and ability to make VoIP calls could make it another useful tool in your communications arsenal.