14 DAY TRIAL // The Windows Live Messenger 2010/Wave 4 Beta will be made available for download soon, according to Microsoft, but the company is not providing the actual bits just yet, despite having gone live with a Preview of the next generation of its instant messaging client. “New release coming soon” is the message that the software giant posted on the Windows Live Preview website for Messenger Wave 4, with the existing download link redirecting users to the current version of the IM client.
Earlier this month, Chris Jones, corporate vice president of the Windows Live Experience, revealed that Microsoft was planning a two-stage approach to the release of the first public development milestone of Windows Live Wave 4, Messenger included. Jones noted at the time that the Redmond company would open up Wave 4 to a limited pool of testers in the immediate future, while subsequently offering it to the public.
Although the Messenger Preview and Windows Live Preview websites have gone live, fact is that Microsoft is only in the first stages of availability. Select testers worldwide have already been permitted access to the Beta of Windows Live Wave 4, but no bits were offered to the general public. This, despite leaked information and bits of Windows Live Messenger Wave 4 Beta.
“The way people socialize and connect with their friends is changing. We designed the new Messenger with these changes in mind so you can continue to use it to connect to your closest friends, wherever they are, and wherever you are. As Chris [Jones] announced earlier, we’ll be releasing this to a limited number of individuals externally in the very near future, before expanding to a broader public beta, and finally to the full public release,” Piero Sierra and Jeff Kunins, group program managers for Windows Live Messenger and Social, revealed.
In the meanwhile, customers can familiarize themselves with the upcoming version of Windows Live Messenger Wave 4 via the Preview website offered by Microsoft. I’ve also included a demonstration of the IM client in the embedded video below, for your viewing pleasure. Please keep your eyes on this space on Softpedia, as I will provide additional coverage on Windows Live Messenger Wave 4 throughout the day.
UPDATE: It appears that the Preview website for Windows Live Messenger Wave 4 is down.
Here are the download links for the current Windows Live Wave 3 releases:
Windows Live Messenger 9.0 (2009) 14.0.8089.726 is available for download here. Windows Live Mail 2009 14.0.8089.0726 is available for download here.
Windows Live Family Safety is available for download here.
Windows Live Writer 14.0.8089.726 is available for download here.
Windows Live Photo Gallery 2009 14.0.8081.709 is available for download here.