Apple just released Messages Beta, an instant messaging platform to replace the iChat in the upcoming OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. Messages is basically like iMessages for the Mac. Messages allows users to send unlimited iMessages to any Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
According to Apple Messages Beta download page, Messages will have the following features:
- Send unlimited iMessages to any Mac, iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.*
- Start an iMessage conversation on your Mac and continue it on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.
- Send photos, videos, attachments, contacts, locations, and more.
- Launch a FaceTime video call and bring the conversation face-to-face.
- Messages supports iMessage, AIM, Yahoo!, Google Talk, and Jabber accounts.
If you want to download and install Messages in Mac OS X Lion 10.7.3 to taste what’s coming in OS X Mountain Lion, follow the step-by-step below:
1. Download the Messages Beta here.
2. Double-click the downloaded MessagesBeta.dmg file and follow the onscreen installation.
3. Run the Messages by clicking its icon in the Dock.
4. A welcome message window appears. It tells you what the Messages is and what you can do with it. Click Continue to the next step.
5. The next step is iMessage Setup. Sign in with your Apple ID to activate iMessage then click Sign in.
6. Verify your email address, you can be reached for messages at the configured email above. Then click Continue.
7. You are done. Messages is ready for you to use. Click Done to begin using Messages.
Messages is a great tool to communicate with your friends, co-workers, families and others who own iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch via iMessages. It also supports Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, AIM and Jabber so you can reach mostly your IM friends using Messages.
Unfortunately, the Messages tool will not be available for Mac OS X 10.7.x when it ends the beta version. It means that the Messages is only available for the upcoming OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion which will be released this summer.