Adobe releases public beta of Cocomo

Adobe Systems Incorporated is introducing a new Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), codenamed “Cocomo,” that can let developers add real-time social capabilities into Web applications via “cloud” computing.

Using Cocomo and Adobe Flex, developers can include collaboration features like real-time audio/video and chat in their existing applications, or build entirely new ones such as multi-player games or social media applications that run cross-platform using Adobe Flash Player or Adobe AIR.

Cocomo is comprised of Flex client components, a hosted services infrastructure, and a simple development model. The company says because Cocomo was designed with security in mind, developers can build multi-user applications that are easier for people to use and trust.

Adobe already uses Cocomo in Adobe Acrobat 9 software and Adobe Reader 9 software, as well as Acrobat.com, to provide end users with access to real-time collaboration within and around PDF documents. This capability can enable users to drive a group’s navigation through a PDF document in real-time, helping ensure everyone is literally, and figuratively, on the same page.

Real-time social features that can be added to Web applications include data messaging, VoIP audio, webcam video, real-time file sharing, text chat and contextual presence.