Skype to pilot group video chat next week, may end up costing you

The Associated Press is reporting that internet chat company Skype plans to pilot group video chat in a public beta starting next week. The group chat feature, which is already available on several other chat networks, will be rolled out exclusively to Windows users, followed by Mac users “later this year.” Neil Stevens, Skype’s general manager of consumer business, told the AP, “When the feature launches next week it will be free, but Skype Ltd. plans to start charging for it along with some other upcoming features in three or four months.” Stevens went onto say, “The feature is the one users have requested most.” There was no mention of how/if video chat will make its way onto Skype’s mobile phone clients (fingers crossed). Alright Skype junkies, check in and sound off…we want to know what you think of Skype’s plans to charge for group video chat.

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