Microsoft has officially released its Windows Messenger for Mac 8. In a blog post, the company announced that the software will be available as a free download or bundled in with Office for Mac 2011.

"Messenger for Mac 8 provides real-time collaboration between Mac users and their Messenger friends, whether those friends are using Messenger on a PC, phone, through Hotmail, or on another Mac... You can use instant messaging, audio, and video calls to communicate with your Messenger contacts by signing in with your Windows Live ID," wrote Piero Sierra, group program manager for Windows Live.

The software allows for real-time collaboration between Mac users and their contacts on Messenger. However, the software does not have support for social views and games, which are features present in its Windows version.

Windows Messenger is just one of a few releases expected from Microsoft. The company earlier launched the Office 2011 for Mac, which contains same features as software's version for Windows. Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac will contain Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Messenger and Outlook.

The Messenger software is now available in Microsoft's Web site.