Skype 3.0 for Android: It’s better than before, but still needs work

Microsoft-owned Skype has being keeping busy with its mobile apps, with the firm having just released upgrades for both Android and Windows 8.

The good: Skype for Android has fantastic audio quality and impressive video call quality. The newest version have a new user interface design for tablets.

The bad: No group video chats. Video quality can sometimes be choppy and pixelated.

The bottom line: If you're an active Skype member, then Skype for Android is absolutely a must-download. If you're not, then it's still great for making one-to-one video calls and even voice calls to landlines and mobile numbers (for a charge).

Here I will check everything about the new Skype 3.0 in details.

The good: New features, Tips
Skype, now owned by Microsoft, has released a large update for its Android App on Tuesday, boasting improved audio quality thanks to Skype’s own SILK codec and impressive video call quality. The new software version also boasting a new user interface design for tablets which makes use of the additional screen estate, and now work better on the larger screens of Android tablets. That is to say, “Now you can share the moment, a photo or a smile on the most popular Android tablets including the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, the Google Nexus 7, Acer Iconia, Asus Transformer Prime, Motorola Xoom and Sony S,” Skype writes in a blog.

As before, the app also comes with built-in SMS capabilities, instant messaging for chatting with your Skype connections, and file transfers between users. Managing your contacts within the app is easy as Skype integrates with your Android address book.

Skype 3.0 for Android devices also allows users to sign in and merge their Skype account with their Microsoft account.

Try to update the app or just download the app to have a try if you are a new user.The voice calling experience is quite good.

Skype for Android 3.0 is available to download for free from Google Play.For windows phone 8 user, you can download on the Windows phone store. For iPhone user, download the app by on the iTunes App Store.

Tips: Using Skype on Android

The bad:
Skype 3.0 is still incapable of group video chats, which is a shame, since the feature is growing in popularity. But you can use the Google+ Hangouts to help you if you like group-video chats.

With Google+ Hangouts, you can catch up with the whole family -- whether you’re on your computer, phone or tablet device, and you can have free video conferencing for up to 10 people. I guess that Skype's developers are hard at work trying to perfect the feature for their product.

The bottom line:
Skype now has 280 million monthly users, and mobile been a major part of Skype’s growth story in the last few years, so if you're an active Skype member, then Skype for Android is absolutely a must-download. If you want to have a one on one video chat, and your friend list is hosted at Facebook, the new Facebook video chat is perfect for you.