Adobe Systems Incorporated has announced a licensing agreement that will allow Microsoft to use Adobe Flash Lite software on its Windows Mobile operating system, enabling web browsing of Flash Player compatible content within the Internet Explorer Mobile browser in future versions of Microsoft Windows Mobile phones.
Microsoft has also licensed Adobe Reader LE software for viewing Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) documents including email attachments and web content. Both Adobe products will be made available to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide, who license Windows Mobile software.
The Flash Lite 3.x browser plug-in for Internet Explorer Mobile on Windows Mobile will provide users with access to rich and interactive web content created using Adobe Flash technology.
Windows Mobile is Microsoft's platform specifically designed for mobile phones. Internet Explorer Mobile provides a compact Internet browser that is optimized for Windows Mobile phones. In fiscal year 2007, Microsoft sold 11 million Windows Mobile licenses and expects to sell more than 20 million licenses in fiscal year 2008.
“People want vibrant web experiences and access to entertainment and information anywhere, anytime,” said John O’Rourke, general manager, Mobile Communications Business at Microsoft Corp. “Bringing Flash Lite and Reader LE to the Windows Mobile experience will give consumers more of their favorite websites on the go.”
With more than 150 percent year-over-year growth and half a billion mobile devices shipped with Flash Lite to date, Flash Lite is delivered on mobile phones and devices of all major handset manufacturers worldwide. Flash Lite runs on multiple platforms, including Windows Mobile, Symbian S60, and Qualcomm BREW, in addition to embedded operating systems on a variety of OEM platforms.
“We are thrilled to work with Microsoft to add playback of rich, web-based Flash Player compatible content and PDF document viewing to Windows Mobile,” said Al Ramadan, senior vice president, Mobile and Devices at Adobe. “Flash has revolutionized the way we experience content on the web and we are excited that Microsoft has decided to extend the experience of Flash technology to Windows Mobile users.”
Adobe Flash Lite and Reader LE availability for Windows Mobile phones will be confirmed later.
