Canonical Pushes Skype Into Ubuntu Repository

In an interesting move that now makes it easier to use the popular Skype VoIP program on Ubuntu Linux, Canonical's Brian Thomason has uploaded the first Skype package into the Ubuntu 10.04 "Lucid Lynx" repository. Using Skype on Ubuntu is now only a sudo apt-get install skype away from being used.

Packaged currently in the Ubuntu Lucid repository is Skype 2.1.0.81 and it's a binary-only version for x86 and x86_64 Linux. Skype can now be found on Launchpad and here is the package page.

Again this is a closed-source version of Skype. We do know that an open-source side to Skype is being worked on and an update is expected soon, but with Canonical now pushing this Skype binary into Ubuntu Lucid makes us wonder if Skype and Canonical are working together on this new version or have any other dealings. Traditionally, Skype has not been available via distribution repositories but users have had to acquire it via their web-site.