Microsoft has announced a new update to Skype for Windows and Mac which means users can now log in to Skype using their MSN Messenger account. This means that if you’ve got an MSN account, you can see when others are online and chat with friends who are using Messenger, Xbox, Hotmail or Outlook.com.
Skype has also been updated to be better integrated with Facebook. You can now sign in directly to Skype with your Facebook account details, without even having to create a Skype account.
If you sign in with a Microsoft or Facebook account you will be offered the option to link your Skype account.
If you choose the link option then Skype will display a combined list of friends although, Microsoft has encouraged feedback from users if they experience problems with this.
You can also now open conversations in separate windows via Preferences, although there have been no significant changes to the overall Mac interface which some users will be disappointed with. Note that the new update is in beta so some features may be temperamental.
Don’t forget to check-out our Getting Started with Skype guide if you’re new to Skype.
