Skype adds video

Internet phone service Skype, which enables users to make free calls to other users and cut-price calls to mobiles and landlines, is adding video calling to its software, providing users have a Webcam.

The new version adds video and extra features in what BBC News reports is becoming an increasingly competitive area.

Skype`s upgrade to video calling competes with well-established instant messaging services that also offer video-phone calling features, including Microsoft`s MSN and America Online`s AIM service.

Two new pieces of computer code that could be used in attacks on Windows users have been posted on the Web in the past two days, bringing to four the number of exploits released for the same two Windows flaws in a week, reports News.Com.

The report says the latest exploit is another that could allow a remote attacker to gain complete control over a vulnerable computer.

The code takes advantage of a flaw in a Windows component for transaction processing, called the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator, a flaw that was addressed by Microsoft in a security bulletin in October.

Microsoft is carrying out internal tests on an online classifieds service that will enable people to sell personal items over the company`s instant messaging, social networking or local search services, reports InformationWeek.

Code-named Fremont, a test version of the service launched a week-and-a-half ago for Microsoft employees only.

Fremont gives users the option of offering goods or services only to contacts on the MSN Messenger instant-messaging service, or to groups within the MSN Spaces blogging service.