Yahoo! has launched a public beta of Yahoo! Messenger 9. The update includes a bunch of boring but important updates like localized versions for more countries including Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. But the big news is that you can embed videos, images, and maps in a chat window.

If you copy and paste a YouTube URL into a message, a video window will pop up. You can also add a Flickr slideshow or drag and drop images from your desktop.

The new IM client also has a redesigned contact list. When you hover over a friend, options pop up for sending an IM message, SMS text message, or starting a voice call. You can also customize the look with new skins, and you can add emoticons to your status message.

Yahoo! Messenger 9 beta is available for Windows XP and Vista. There are other versions available for Mac, Linux/Unix, mobile, or web chat.

Windows only: Share pictures, videos, maps and large files without leaving your instant messenger window with Yahoo Messenger 9 Beta. New features include the ability to view YouTube or Yahoo Videos, Flickr pictures and online map links with another user, as well as a removal of the 1GB size limit on file transfers. Also added is the ability to forward text messages and computer-to-computer voice calls to a mobile phone, but, as CNet points out, many users will just like the new emoticons—they've expanded to cover moods like "rock on," and can be put into status messages. Yahoo Messenger 9 Beta is a free download for Windows only.