In new 2.5, Skype addresses some usability issues

Well, Skype took some steps forward early this morning, when the eBay-owned Internet-based calling service introduced their Skype 2.5 beta

The main upside seems to be a series of significant usability improvements, such as:

A country drop-down menu for calling, eliminating that time-consuming, error-prone need to remember country codes; 

Improved payment options with this functionality now better-integrated into Skype's softwar
The ability to send one-way SMS messages from Skype to a mobile number;

Easier contact list distribution, with the ability to add groups of contacts to the Skype accounts of friends and family members and

The ability to start a conference call with one click.

Well, it's a start. There's more that Skype needs to do, but 2.5 is not bad for an upgrade that is more evolutionary than revolutionary.