Skype officially unveiled the new version of their service, which was built around the new Microsoft Windows 8.  Skype for Windows 8 won’t be available until Friday October 26, when Microsoft officially unveils the Windows 8 platform along with the Surface tablet and other Windows 8 tablets, hybrids and Ultrabooks.

“The team at Skype has been building on the Windows platform since the first release of Skype,” Mark Gillet said in Skype’s blog.  “With Skype for Windows 8 we’ve focused on how people are using Skype today, and re-imagined Skype for everyday communications across our global community.”

As expected, Skype for Windows 8, is best used on a touch-based device like the Surface tablet.  It features a modern design, which means it goes well with Windows 8’s tiled UI.  In the sneak peek featured on their blog, you’d see that the user interface of Skype looks fluid on a tablet.  Making me think how good the new version of Skype would be if you’re using a Windows 8 PC that doesn’t have a touchscreen.

So what does Skype for Window 8 have to brag about?  Here’s a brief overview of the top three features that really help the updated Skype stand out.

Prioritizes people that matters to you

All your important contacts, the ones you mark as your favorite, or the ones you often chat or call will be right at your fingertips as they would be the first thing you see when you launch Skype.  It will also feature a modern dialpad so calling landlines or mobile phones would be easier, just like when you’re calling a phone number using your smartphone.

Always On

Skype wants you to always be connected and reachable to your contacts and they’ve found a way to keep you always connected on Skype without draining your device’s battery.  It runs in the background when you navigate away from the app so it won’t bother you when you’re doing other things but users will still be able to receive voice and video calls and chats and it will notify you about new calls and instant messages so you’ll always know when someone is contacting you.

People App

Skype and Microsoft found a way to streamline all your contacts, may it be a Skype contact, or from your mobile device, or contacts using landline phones.  Skype is integrated to Windows 8’s People App – a cloud connected address book   According to Microsoft, the People App “connects to your email and social accounts, bringing together all your contacts (and what they’re up to) in one convenient place.”