Microsoft is releasing version 2.5 of its Skype for Windows Phone 8 app today. The software maker is dropping the beta preview tag as the app moves to a full release. Although the version number has been bumped to 2.5, there isn't a whole host of new changes. Microsoft says it has fixed some crashes and video calling / messaging bugs, but one change is how Messenger buddies are handled on Skype for Windows Phone.

Toast message notifications for Messenger buddies are now displayed by default in Skype for Windows Phone 8. The change is related to Microsoft's continued migration to Skype for messaging, video, and audio chats. However, Windows Phone 8 already includes Messenger integration, so it's not immediately clear whether users will simply get dual notifications on a Windows Phone, or whether the software maker has disabled notifications from the built-in client. We've reached out to Microsoft to clarify the situation and we'll update you accordingly. In the mean time the updated app is available in the Windows Phone Store.