The final version of Windows Live Messenger 8.5 has been leaked (via mess.be) and is available for download. Microsoft has been cooking Window Live Messenger 8.5 to accompany the second wave of Windows Live releases scheduled for November. This summer, the Redmond company debuted the second phase in the evolution of its cloud operating system. Consequently, new betas of the products and services reunited under the Windows Live brand umbrella began being available.

In early September, Microsoft unveiled the unified installer for Windows Live, and a plethora of new beta releases including Windows Live Messenger, Photo Gallery, Mail, OneCare Family Safety and Writer. Windows Live Messenger 8.5 debuted into beta in May this year. In September, Microsoft evolved the instant messaging client from Beta 1 to Beta 2 stage, and by the middle of the month was announcing that the second wave of Windows Live downloads will be made available in early November.

Well, there still is no official word from the Redmond company as to the finalization of Windows Live Messenger 8.5, but the IM client has been leaked and is available for download. At this point, it is clear that the official version from Microsoft will soon follow, but the company failed to provide any details in this respect.

As you can see from the adjacent screenshots, Windows Live Messenger 8.5, evolved from Beta, has moved from Build 8.5.1288.816 to Build 8.5.1302.1018. So far, there are little distinctions between the Beta 2 version of the instant messaging client and the final release. Windows Live Messenger 8.5 is the successor of Windows Live Messenger 8.1 made available in January with full Windows Vista support. Although both editions of the IM client are designed with Vista in mind, only Windows Live Messenger 8.5 is tailorfitted for Microsoft's latest operating system.

Windows Live Messenger 8.5.1302.1018 is available for download via this link right here on Softpedia.