Skype update on 12.04

[rikona]

I just got an email telling me I had to update Skype. For some reason
the download from the Skype website didn't work. When I started
searching to see why this might be, I saw a note that the Ubuntu
software Center had the latest version, so I decided to try that. The
software Center said that it needed to uninstall "Skype" first and
then proceed with the install. It said it was installed, but when I
fired up Skype it turned out to be the older version. I presume the
software Center did not do the uninstall it said it needed to do. Some
fiddling with another browser successfully downloaded 4.3.0.37-1.deb
from the Skype website. The software Center supposedly installed
4.3.0.37-0, it sounds quite close to the current version. 

What is the best way of updating Skype without losing all the
settings, contacts, and other information I have already set up? What
needs to be backed up to assure that this information is not
clobbered? 

Thanks,

   rikona