Earlier today, Apple announced the ninth major release of Mac OS, dubbed "OS X Mountain Lion." The update brings a number of new features to the Mac platform, most of which come from iOS. One new feature is the Messages app, which integrates FaceTime, iMessages, and iChat functionality into one.
In order to test the app and give users an idea of what it will be like, Apple has released a beta version of Messages to OS X Lion users today.
Download Messages Beta and get a taste of what’s coming in OS X Mountain Lion. When you install Messages, it replaces iChat. But iChat services will continue to work. And Messages brings iMessage to the Mac — just like on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch running iOS 5. Here are the features you can expect with Messages:
- 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.
Messages for OS X Lion is available for download here.
