Microsoft unveils the new Windows Live Messenger

Microsoft has presented their future engine for their well known Windows Live Messenger client.

As planned, Microsoft has lifted the veil on their new Windows Live Messenger (2010 or 2011?). For normal users, it is currently only possible to view a presentation of this on http://www.windowslivepreview.com, with a public beta planned for release in June.

In the meantime, users are able to get an idea of what this service will bring with it through pictures and videos displayed on the site, with Windows Live Messenger being part of the Windows Live Wave 4 products. This is an important release for Microsoft and it was the president in person, Steve Ballmer, who spoke about the release of this new WLM client during a press conference conducted before students at the University of São Paulo in Brazil.

Without surprise, WLM will provide better compatibility with Windows 7 with better integration into the task bar and its Jump Lists. We will also see the arrival of functions which have already been reported like conversations by tabs. It is possible to attribute a status to a category of contacts (available, busy...) and to leave video messages when users are offline.

According to Microsoft, the new WLM has been developed around three specific fields: the development of high definition, social networks and the opening up of the web. Depending on the bandwidth and available hardware, the video conversation format will automatically adapt to High definition (720p). It will be possible to share content like photos while maintaining a video conversation in HD.

With the launch of this new version of WLM, a welcome page will be displayed allowing the user to see the current updates made by their contacts on social networks like Facebook and Twitter. It will also be possible to send content to social networks directly from WLM. A dedicated tool allows the user to also set their confidentiality levels for information shared with their contacts.

When Microsoft speaks about opening up the web, they are talking about the integration of the Bing search engine and its content. A Messenger Connect API will also be available so that sites can be integrated into WLM so that discussions can be undertaken about the content currently displayed.

The new Messenger will be available for Smartphone’s, including the iPhone. According to Microsoft, their instant messaging service has close to 320 million users in the world.