Microsoft releases Windows Live Messenger beta

The software for the service is available for the public to download from its Windows Live Ideas Web site below. 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 Inc., Skype Technologies SA and others. It offers a PC-to-phone calling service called Windows Live Call, and free video with voice communications called Video Conversation.

From 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 Inc., is already offered for a fee in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France and Spain.

Royal Philips Electronics N.V. and Uniden Corp. 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 to 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.