The Skype Linux Team release a new Skype 2.1 Beta version .. the last beta introduce new ad interesting function :

* Supporto a PulseAudio

* SMS send support (*Sending SMS requires available Skype Credit)

* Contact groups

* Contact labels, or tags, for easier contact organization

* Chat window improvements (typing notification, mes*sage editing, s/geeky text/replacement/, new emoticons)

* Nicer contact list with mood mes*sages and video capability icons

* Nicer tray icon.

for ufficial release note : https://developer.skype.com/LinuxSkype

For Italian linux user : Rilasciato Skype 2.1 BETA

I hope the Skype Linux team we'll also update the version for maemo and the API to integrates the functionality of Video and SMS

I've tried it, only it crashes on login on my 64-bit Arch box. :/ Other than that, it sounds nice. In regards to the "s/geeky text/replacement/", where did you read that? I didn't see it on the changelog (although I could have missed it). That would be a welcome feature. As for SMS, it's nice, but until Skype adds SMSes to their subscriptions, I doubt I'll use it; typing text messages on a real keyboard won't outweigh the cost, given that my cell plan includes a reasonable number of them.

Yep, crashes on call for me 64bit openSUSE 11.2 Milestone 6.

In the Ubuntu 8.10 64 bit the beta 2.1 work ! don't crash with normal use.

my beta crashes with the audio test in options

works for me in Jaunty 64 bit

however, the beta is still unstable, it is normal that there are crash