The next version of Microsoft's MSN Messenger will boast enhanced video conferencing courtesy of a partnership between the Redmond, Wash.-based developer and Logitech, the two companies said Wednesday.

The new Logitech-powered service, which will debut in MSN Messenger 7 when it releases in a final version this spring, will offer synchronized audio and video from within the instant messaging client.

Microsoft and the Fremont, Calif.-based Logitech have partnered for the past two years to provide video chat, but the audio and video segments of the conversation were separate, and not smoothly synchronized.

The enhanced video and audio will initially be available to MSN Messenger consumers in the United States and Germany.

MSN Messenger 7, which works only on Windows systems, is currently in beta test, and can be downloaded from the < a href= http://messenger.msn.com/beta/>Microsoft Web site.