The final version of Windows Live Messenger 9.0 (2009) is available for download. Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer announced during the opening keynote address at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2009) in Las Vegas that Microsoft had wrapped up the development of Windows Live Essentials, a suite of applications offered in concordance with the Windows Live Services. With the finalization of Windows Live Essentials, the Redmond giant has released to web (RTW) the gold version of the next iteration of its instant messaging client.

“We all have different ways to share things online, and with Windows Live we now can offer the ability to do that in a coordinated way. It’s designed from the ground up with all of the sharing or community services that people use online,” Brian Hall, general manager of Microsoft’s Windows Live business group, stated.

Windows Live Messenger 9.0 (2009) RTW has the following Build number – 14.0.8050.1202 – and is, in this context, the final Wave 3 release of the IM client. Testers of Windows Live messenger 9.0 (2009) will notice that the Build number has not changed in the final version, compared to the last Beta development milestone. In mid-December 2008, the Redmond company made available for download the Beta Refresh of the instant messaging client along with the Beta Refresh variants for the additional Windows Live Essentials applications.

With the Beta Refresh of Windows Live Messenger 9.0 (2009), Microsoft indicated that it needed additional time to iron out some of the glitches that still survived in the program. Half a month later, the software giant announced the RTW build of Windows Live Messenger, accompanying the Windows 7 Beta client release to MSDN and TechNet Plus subscribers.

Windows Live Messenger 9.0 (2009) RTW Build 14.0.8050.1202 comes to the table with a new graphical user interface and advanced customization capabilities. However, in addition to the new personalization options, the IM client offers users features including Favorite contacts and Groups, new content sharing functionality, and evolved video capabilities.

Windows Live Messenger 9.0 (2009) RTW Build 14.0.8050.1202 is available for download here.