New Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 Beta

Introducing Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 Beta, the next version of our popular IM software for Windows. This new version has a whole new look and feel, along with some great new features that make it well worth the upgrade. Here’s a quick look at what’s new in Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 Beta:

- A whole new look for your contact list. Keep it in detail view to see larger Avatar images for your friends, or switch to compact list view (in the Contacts menu). Plus, you can just hover and click to IM, SMS or call a friend.

- Brand new skins and emoticons! Click the dot near the top of your Messenger window to choose a skin, and check the emoticon menu for the new ones that were inspired by user entries in our Emoticontest earlier this year (more on our winners in a future post).

- New Flickr integration in the photo sharing feature. Easily share photos from your Flickr.com account, or save photos shared with you directly to Flickr.

- A new in-line media player that makes it easy to view maps, photos and videos from sites like Yahoo! Video and YouTube right in the IM window. No plug-ins needed, no extra downloads — it’s built right in. Just send a video, map or photo link to another friend who’s also on 9.0 to try it out.

- New features for voice calls. You can have your incoming Phone In or free PC calls forwarded to another number like your mobile, home or office phone, even if you’re signed out of Messenger (Phone Out account required). Plus there’s a new way to get voicemail. When someone leaves you a voicemail in Messenger, an email is sent to you with an MP3 of the voice message attached.

Download Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 Beta

Here’s a brief video that demonstrates the new features of Yahoo! Messenger 9.0:

The new Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 also offers localized versions in six new markets: Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India (Hindi), and Vietnam. With these additions, Yahoo! Messenger is available in 25 international markets.

As with any new Beta software, Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 is not perfect but we think we got most of the major bugs out. But we need your help to put it through its paces! Install it, give it a run for its money, and then provide your input (good or bad!) on our feedback page. Your comments will help us improve on it for the final release early next year.

I know that many of our Windows Vista users are eagerly awaiting the Beta launch of Yahoo! Messenger for Vista. Don’t worry – we’re still working hard on it and hope to have it to you very soon. In the meantime, we hope you’ll try out Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 which is designed for both Windows XP and Vista.

We look forward to receiving your feedback on Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 Beta!

Sarah Bacon
Product Manager

Source: Yahoo! FanClub