Having allowed Mac users and developers test and use it for a number of months, Apple has removed Messages Beta from its website, as it looks to publicly ship the app with its new OS X Mountain Lion desktop operating system in July.
As noted by Cult of Mac, if you navigate to the Messages Beta webpage on Apple’s website, the company will now direct visitors to a OS X Mountain Lion overview page, highlighting the impressive new features included in its upcoming software.
The tool, which allows desktop users connect their Apple ID and send iMessages to iOS device owners, launched in Beta in February, alongside the first developer seed of its Mountain Lion OS.
On the overview page, Messages is present but there are no longer any download links:
However, the app is still mentioned on Apple’s Downloads page, but the same link still directs to the Mountain Lion features page.
If you have already downloaded and installed Messages Beta, you should be able to use it until OS X Mountain Lion ships. New users will have to rely on third-party downloads (which we don’t recommend) or direct links if they still wish to install it.
Apple announced during its WWDC 2012 keynote that there are 140 million iMessage users, who have sent 150 billion messages thus far, with more than a billion sent a day.
Apple’s Craig Federighi noted that the company will ship its new Mountain Lion operating system in July, costing just $19.99, or free for people who order the new Mac models announced yesterday.
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