Yahoo Messenger 11 has finally left beta after seven months and been given a final release by Yahoo. Version 11 sees a number of new features, including support for Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks.

The use of instant messaging programs has declined somewhat due to the growth of social media platforms with larger networks. Yahoo has chosen to embrace this trend by placing social media at the heart of Yahoo Messenger 11. Not only is it designed to strike up conversations via text or audio/video, but now you can also play collaborative games and interact across your Facebook network too.

It's now possible to update your Facebook status directly from Yahoo Messenger 11 as well as take part in social games like Mafia Wars without leaving the program. With more and more people using multiple Internet-connected devices like smartphones, netbooks and tablets in addition to their computers, Yahoo Messenger is designed to let you stay signed in simultaneously in several places, ensuring no updates are missed and your availability isn't compromised.

In addition to Facebook, Yahoo Messenger 11 also allows you to not only view updates from friends on Twitter, Flickr and Pulse, but "like" and comment on them from directly within the program, too. You can also save time by posting single updates across all of your networks.

Other improvements include easy access to your recent conversations from any PC that you've used when signed into Yahoo Messenger. Browse the latest discussions and pull up a full transcript. If you like to customize your apps, there are seven brand new skins for you to apply.

Yahoo Messenger 11 is available as a free download for PCs running Windows XP or later. There's a web-based version at http://webmessenger.yahoo.com for other platforms as well as dedicated apps for iPhone and Android too.