Finally, Microsoft has broken the silence that surrounded the Windows Live Wave 4 and more importantly the upcoming Windows Live Messenger.  As a matter of fact, Steve Ballmer is in Brazil to give a preview of Windows Live Messenger Wave 4. Read after the jump to see what’s coming in the next iteration of IM client.

Windows Live Messenger in Wave 4 focuses on improving the IM experience by integrating chat,video and images all together, brings deep social network integration and brings Messenger on the web and the phone as well. Here are the new features of the upcoming version:

  • Tabbed conversation.
  • Richer photo and video sharing
  • High definition video chat.
  • Video messages.
  • Games.
  • One click access to your local PC files.
  • Have a high-definition video chat with your friend while clicking through a set of photos
  • Search results from Bing.
  • See content shared on SkyDrive, Facebook and other social networks.
  • Facebook chat will be introduced later in the current year.
  • Post status update to social and content sharing sites.
  • Integration with Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace.

One thing that I personally like a lot is the modernized social experience, which focuses on bringing you the graphically enhanced view of the content shared by your social contacts. This means you can see high quality videos, high resolution images, not to forget Facebook albums.

No specific date has been provided for the release of public beta. But one thing is for sure, Windows Live Messenger Wave 4 brings quite a lot on the table and looks promising.

[via WindowsTeamBlog]