Skype drops screen sharing into new beta

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 28 May 2009 at 10:34

Skype is bringing screen sharing to Windows users in its latest beta software.

The company offered the feature to Mac users back in January, and has now extended the functionality to the Windows client.

The feature allows callers to show what's on their PC screen to fellow Skype users, allowing them to collaborate on documents or perhaps offer basic technical support. Unlike Windows Live Messenger's Remote Assistance, however, there's no option to take control of the other user's screen.

Screen sharing is also restricted to one-on-one calls: it's not possible to share a screen with multiple users in Skype rooms for example.

Screen sharing has been available via a series of third-party plug-ins for some time, but it now appears the company is intent on building it into the client itself.

Skype is currently in a state of flux, after being put on the transfer list by parent company, eBay. The auction giant plans to spin-off Skype in 2010, after admitting it has little in common with the popular telephony service.