Apple releases Messages beta for Mac, replacing iChat and integrating with iOS

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Though the 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.

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 be running the latest version of Lion, OS X 10.7.3. The full list of features of the Messages application, according to Apple, are:

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.

The release of Messages for Mac echoes Apple's launch of FaceTime for Mac in late 2010. FaceTime video chat was originally introduced with the iPhone 4, but eventually made its way to the Mac as a beta application, followed by full FaceTime integration in OS X 10.7 Lion when it launched last July.

💬 74 Comments

irnchriz

said about 11 years ago

Currently unavailable.

Says to try back in a few hours.

MacPro

said about 11 years ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by irnchriz

Currently unavailable.

Says to try back in a few hours.

That's odd, mine downloaded immediately ... (I am in FL, USA)

uninterested_viewer

said about 11 years ago

This is exciting- I was disappointed when this wasn't included originally- glad to see they were working on it.

The iOS-ification of OSX currently and in Mountain Lion will always be controversial, but I'm pretty excited to see how they integrate it together. With iCloud and the like, the Mac is really no longer necessarily the 'hub' of your Apple gear- any additional integration with their other products is welcome as far as I'm concerned. The understandable fear is that the Mac will lose flexibility/advanced features in this transition.. time will tell how they tip toe around this. We've seen one way of managing this is the recently released Airport Utility- make it dumbed down to the average user, but provide those advanced features under the hood (although I have read they did actually drop some features).

laurens

said about 11 years ago

Hi apple Insider,
I guess new software means new hardware accordingly. Most likely the new iMac and Macbook will be introduced just before (including free issue new OS) or after the summer holidays, containing newest processors of intel's Ivy bridge platform
Unfortunately for all the people looking forward to buy a new macbook or iMac in the next few months.. (which was in line with previous years revamps iMac)