Microsoft is making headway with the development of Windows Live Wave 3, designed to provide major updates to the second wave of services and solutions collectively released under the Windows Live brand umbrella at the end of 2007. In this context, the Redmond giant is also cooking an upgrade to Windows Live Messenger 8.5 made available in early November of the past year. The first Beta of Windows Live Messenger 9.0 went live and was leaked in November 2007, with Microsoft pulling the plug on the testing phase as of June 24, 2008. But now the software company has moved forward in the development process to the 2009 version of the instant messaging client, namely Windows Live Messenger 9.0 Milestone 1.

According to Mess.be and LiveSide, which jointly provided the first details related to Windows Live Messenger 9.0 M1, the build, also leaked, but not yet available for download, is the Windows Live Wave 3 Milestone 1 installer of the next generation Microsoft IM client. Windows Live Messenger 9.0 M1 is the successor of the initial Beta dropped at the end of the past year, but continues to be labeled as a beta release itself. Version 2009 of Messenger 9.0 is Build 14.0.3921.717, and very much still a Beta release, with the software company laboring to produce Milestone builds while making its way to the official launch reportedly planned for the end of 2008.

On the surface of Windows Live Messenger 9.0, users will be able to notice the evolution of the graphical user interface, first of all. The successor of version 8.5 sports a new UI with a revamped header, a detail that was not present in the initial Beta. But in addition to the redesign, Windows Live Messenger 9.0 also introduces the Favorite Contacts feature, set up to permit users to centralize the most relevant of their IM friends in a single location at the top of the contact list.

Windows Live Messenger 9.0 also brings to the table the Groups feature, essentially enabling chat functionality in the context of a multi-party conversation between IM contacts. Also new is the level at which Microsoft kicked the photo sharing capabilities of Windows Live Messenger 9.0 M1. Via PhotoShare end users will be able to access large previews of the images being shared, and to navigate among items through a column of thumbnails on the right hand side of the window.

Of course, in the end Windows Live Messenger 9.0 Beta M1 Build 14.0.3921.717 is nothing more than the evolution from the Beta version introduced last year. Microsoft is bound to produce additional milestones, and could even open up the beta testing program for the general public as it traditionally has. Still, at this point in time the Redmond giant has offered nothing official on the next generation of Windows Live Messenger.

For the time being Windows Live Messenger 8.5 is available for download here.