Apple on Thursday unveiled the next major version of its desktop operating system, OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. The new operating system for Mac desktops and notebooks will feature a wide range of changes from new apps to redesigned visual elements, but one of the most highly anticipated features Apple unveiled was iMessage integration thanks to a new Messages app that will replace iChat. Apple released a beta of its Messages app to users running OS X 10.7.3 Lion, but French blog Consomac on Friday discovered that Lion users will only have access to the new app during the beta period. “Thank you for participating in the Messages Beta program. With the inclusion of Messages in OS X Mountain Lion, the Messages Beta program has ended,” a text string within the app’s resource files states. “To continue using Messages, please visit the Mac App Store and purchase OS X Mountain Lion.” Apple’s OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion upgrade will be available this summer for what will likely be a $29 fee, but a number of recent Intel-based Macs will not support the new OS, so these users will not have access to Apple’s new Messages app.
iMessage to only work on Mountain Lion following beta period
Updated Dec 19th, 2018 7:47PM EST
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Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 15 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.
His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.
