Making video calls via Skype on Windows Phone 8 just got interesting, as the newest update to Skype taps into the hardware acceleration features of Windows Phone 8 to allow high definition video calling.

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Version 2.4 of the Skype app for Windows Phone 8 is available now for download; however, high definition video calling will only work for high-end handsets such as the Nokia Lumia 920, HTC Windows Phone 8X and Samsung Ativ S. Other handsets in the mid-range and low-end will only support VGA, so you might need to upgrade if HD video calling in 720p is important to you.

Skype automatically sets the quality of video calls depending on the speed of the Internet connection, so even a high-end Windows Phone 8 device would be subjected to VGA video calls if the Internet connection is not fast enough to go full-on high definition.

Furthermore, Skype callers can jump between portrait and landscape mode seamlessly, and they can also use either the rear or front-facing camera, all depending their needs.

Making a video or audio call with Skype is very simple. Since all Skype contacts are available to in the People's Hub, users can simply tap on a name to activate a call without ever having to go through the process of launching Skype beforehand. That's pretty impressive, and it goes to show how much Microsoft is planning to make Skype a very important aspect of its software and hardware products.

Users can also switch between different user accounts to make Skype calls.

Full release notes for Skype 2.4 preview for Windows Phone 8 are:

New and changed features:

• Higher quality video calling, and up to 720P on supported devices and depending on network conditions
• Video calling in landscape mode
• Camera switching
• Enabled People Hub integration
• Switch accounts

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