On Wednesday, Apple announced the public beta of its new Mac Messages application with cross-platform support for iOS will be a major feature of the forthcoming OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, users can get their hands on an early beta immediately.
According to AppleInsider, the Messages beta is now available for download direct from Apple for free. Apple’s official site advertises that it will give users “a taste of what’s coming in OS X Mountain Lion,” set to be released in late summer 2012.
“When you install Messages, it replaces iChat,” Apple said. “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.”
The Messages beta requires users Mac OS X 10.7.3 or later to install and offers 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.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available and if you’re tried the beta, please let us know what you make of it in the comments.