The latest version of Windows Live Messenger (14.0.8064.0206) is now available for free download here.

Over the next month, if you’re still running versions 8.1 or 8.5, you’ll get a prompt encouraging you to upgrade to the latest version of Windows Live Messenger. If you accept the optional upgrade, the installer will launch and start your free upgrade.

We’ve also made improvements to the latest release so even if you have downloaded Windows Live Messenger 2009 in the past month, you will still receive the upgrade prompt.  To check if you have the most recent version go to the Help menu and click ‘About Messenger'.  The latest release is Version 2009 (Build 14.0.8064.0206).  If you are running a different version, you will soon be asked to upgrade, or you can go, download and install the latest version on your own.

While Messenger is installing, you’ll be given the option to install other new applications that are part of our suite of Windows Live Essentials. You can click each program to get more info about it before you decide which ones you want, but they’re all great additions to your Windows PC, and they are all free.

And if you already have older versions of any of these programs installed (ex. Windows Live Mail, Photo Gallery, or Toolbar), they’ll be automatically upgraded to their latest versions along with Messenger.

There are tons of new features and improvements in the new, 2009 version, and we really hope you’ll try it out. From improved video and audio calls, to new “favorite” contacts, dynamic display pictures, and a fast and easy new way to share photos, we’ve worked hard to bring you the best release of Windows Live Messenger yet. So good that it got the Editor’s Choice Award from PC Magazine!  If you haven’t seen it yet, check out this demo of the new version of Messenger:

Try it out and let us know what you think, either here in comments, or through our feedback site at http://feedback.live.com.

All the best,
- Sameer, Lonn and the Windows Live Team

P.S. If you have difficulty signing in to Messenger after the upgrade, please visit http://messenger-support.spaces.live.com/.
For help with webcam connectivity in Messenger, see this blog post: http://messenger-support.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8B3F39C76A8B853F!14323.entry