While Microsoft is not yet ready to talk about the next iteration of Windows Live Messenger, the company is promising that it will deliver a new development milestone of its instant messaging client in the first half of the coming year. But in this regard, the software giant has in fact missed the initially announced deadline for the first testing release a new version of its IM client designed not for Windows, but for Mac OS X. Microsoft is offering Windows Live Messenger for users of its own proprietary operating system, including Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP, and Messenger for Mac for Apple’s Mac OS X.

“So what’s up with Messenger? One of the most frequent questions we get here on Mojo and in forums is that you – our customers and community- want an update on timing for A/V support in the Messenger personal service, especially since we shared our plan to deliver a beta of personal A/V in 2009,” stated Eric Wilfrid, general manager for the MacBU at Microsoft.

With 2010 just a few days away, it is clear by now to the people that followed the evolution of the instant messaging client that Microsoft won’t produce a Beta this year. The first Beta build of Messenger for Mac 8 is expected in March 2010. Wilfrid confirmed officially that Microsoft is curren… (read more)