In the shadow of the monumental Windows Vista and the 2007 office System launches, Microsoft has also made available Windows Live Messenger 8.1. The release is the final version of Windows Live Messenger 8.1. The Microsoft IM client has shaken off the beta label and delivers full support for Windows Vista.

The final version of Windows Live Messenger 8.1 is available in eight new languages, including Romanian, Bulgarian, Estonian, Croatian, Latvian, Serbian Latin, Thai, Ukrainian. And on top of full Vista compatibility, Microsoft's instant messaging client has fixed the crash issues related to older versions of the Adobe Flash player. Additionally, Live Messenger 8.1 is enabling users to send email invitations along with a new contact and introduces a wide number of bug fixes, including improved connectivity.

Compared to version 8.0, Windows Live Messenger 8.1 delivers an array of extra features. Roaming Identity gives users the possibility to display names, pictures and messages from any place they may be. Contact Card has been overhauled. Emoticons, Winks, Backgrounds, Display Pictures have also gotten a facelift. SMS Phone Book enables users to seamlessly send SMS.

Windows Live Messenger 8.1 introduces new contact Emotion and the addition of Sign Out in the Status Menu. Users will be able to report any abuse from other users directly from the IM client.

"When you are in Presentation Mode on Vista Messenger will change your status to busy so you can avoid the embarrassing situation of everyone reading your IMs! Don't worry if you want to show Messenger in your presentation you can turn this off (Tools->Options-> Personal-> My Status -> Show me as "Busy"...)," revealed a representative from the Windows Live Messenger team.

Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger) 8.1.0178 Final is available for download here.