Adobe Open Screen Project Gives Flash Away
As part of the Open Screen Project, Adobe said it is "working to enable a consistent runtime environment " taking advantage of Adobe Flash Player and, in the future, Adobe AIR " that will remove barriers for developers and designers as they publish content and applications across desktops and devices."
Adobe is removing restrictions on the use of the SWF and FLV/F4V specifications, publishing the device porting layer APIs for Adobe Flash Player, publishing the Adobe Flash Cast protocol for robust data services and removing licensing fees for the next major releases of Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR), making them free.
"Adobe is spearheading the Open Screen Project with support from industry leaders who share a common vision to provide rich, interactive experiences across computers, devices and consumer electronics," said Shantanu Narayen, Adobe's CEO, in a statement. "A consistent, more open platform for developers will drive rapid innovation, vastly improving the user experience."
The company said its Flash player runs on over 98 percent of Internet-enabled desktop computers and more than half billion mobile devices today, and more than 75 percent of streaming video on the Web uses Flash. By 2009, Adobe expects more than 1 billion mobile devices to ship with Flash technology.
Other technology companies involved in the Open Screen Project include: Chunghwa Telecom, Cisco, Intel, LG Electronics, Motorola, Samsung Electronics, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Verizon Wireless.