Get Messages for your Mac OS X 10.7 'Lion' system today

Excited by the fact that Apple has just revealed that Mac OS X 10.8 'Mountain Lion' will integrate the iOS iMessage feature directly into the OS but wish you could have that today on your Mac OS X 10.7 'Lion' machine? I've got news for you ...

Apple's made a public beta available of Messages for Mac available to anyone running Mac OS X 10.7 'Lion,' meaning that there's no need to wait until the release of 'Mountain Lion.'

Head over to the Apple site to download the application.

Note: Remember, it is a beta and could be do all sorts of unexpected things. Apple doesn't slap the beta label on everything like some companies do, so consider yourself warned!

Messages on the Mac does everything you'd expect of iMessage on iOS devices, and more:

• 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.

UPDATE: Seems there was a problem with the application and Apple has withdrawn it ... check back in a few hours for an updated download.

Related:

• Apple unveils OS X 10.8 ‘Mountain Lion’ to developers
• OS X 10.8 'Mountain Lion' Gatekeeper - A disappointment, rather than a serious security tool
• Seven months on: Too much, too soon for a major Mac OS X update?
• Apple’s ‘Mountain Lion’: Another step toward iOS, Mac feature unification
• Say Hello to Mountain Lion (a.k.a. Mac OS 10.8)