A new version of the popular Yahoo! Messenger instant messaging (IM) tool has been announced on the application's official blog today.Yahoo! Messenger 9.0 Beta comes with a new look for its contact list, which allows users to switch between detailed and compact list views, depending on whether they wish to see larger avatar images for their buddies.
A range of new skins and emoticons are also available, including some that are based on submissions to Yahoo!'s Emoticontest competition earlier this year.
Meanwhile, the tool's photo-sharing facility now comes with Flickr integration, while a new media player is now available for use within the application, enabling users to view video clips, photos and maps from around the web in IM windows.
Those who make use of Yahoo! Messenger's voice call service, incoming Phone In or free PC-based calls can now get calls forwarded to other numbers, with the added ability to listen to voicemail messages via an mp3 attached to an automatic email.
The application is available in six new international markets - the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India (in Hindi) and Vietnam - and is available to download from today.
Yahoo! announced on its Messenger Blog last week that a second release of the Mac 3.0 Beta 2 version of the tool is now available, making it compatible with Apple's newly-released Leopard operating system as a result.
