Microsoft has released a beta of Windows Live Messenger, the next version of its MSN Messenger instant-messaging service, it announced Tuesday.The software for the service is available for the public to download from its Windows Live Ideas website. It was available for beta testing before, but by invitation only.The new release aims to help Microsoft compete better with communications tools from Google, Skype Technologies and others. It offers a PC-to-phone calling service called Windows Live Call, and free video with voice communications called Video Conversation. Starting next week, Microsoft is extending Windows Live Call to include Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands. Windows Live Call, with service from Verizon Communications, is already offered for a fee in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain. Royal Philips Electronics N.V. and Uniden will offer cordless phones designed exclusively for Windows Live Messenger, Microsoft said. They are dual phones that work over both the Internet and public-switched telephone networks. The beta service includes a “sharing folders” feature that lets users share photos and other files of any size with Messenger contacts by dragging and dropping the files into their Windows Live Messenger window. It also lets users send messages when their contacts are offline, with the messages delivered the next time the recipient logs on.-John Ribeiro, IDG News ServiceThis article is posted on our Microsoft Informer page. For more news on the Redmond, Wash.-based powerhouse, keep checking in.For related news coverage, read Microsoft Chases Online Ad Revenue With Ad Center and Microsoft Nears Massive Ad Deal.Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content BrandPost The future of trust—no more playing catch up Broadcom: 2023 Tech Trends That Transform IT By Eric Chien, Director of Security Response, Symantec Enterprise Division, Broadcom Mar 31, 2023 5 mins Security BrandPost TCS gives Blackhawk Network an edge with Microsoft Cloud In this case study, Blackhawk Network’s Cara Renfroe joins Tata Consultancy Services’ Rakesh Kumar and Microsoft’s Nilendu Pattanaik to explain how TCS transformed the gift card company’s customer engagement and global operati By Tata Consultancy Services Mar 31, 2023 1 min Financial Services Industry Cloud Computing IT Leadership BrandPost How TCS pioneered the ‘borderless workspace’ with Microsoft 365 Microsoft’s modern workplace solution proved a perfect fit for improving productivity and collaboration, while maintaining security of systems and data. By Tata Consultancy Services Mar 31, 2023 1 min Financial Services Industry Microsoft Cloud Computing BrandPost Supply chain decarbonization: The missing link to net zero By improving the quality of global supply chain data, enterprises can better measure their true carbon footprint and make progress toward a net-zero business ecosystem. By Tata Consultancy Services Mar 31, 2023 2 mins Retail Industry Supply Chain Green IT Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe