Nokia and Macromedia today announced a licensing agreement that will integrate Macromedia Flash technology into Series 60 Platform. Series 60 becomes a reference platform for Macromedia's mobile Flash technology, and Macromedia will implement new versions of its mobile Flash technology on Series 60. Nokia has also agreed to support Flash in its other software platforms.

The agreement will provide opportunities for the 1.8 million registered developers in Forum Nokia and the more than one million Macromedia Flash developers to create new compelling Flash content and applications for mobile phones to be deployed through operators worldwide. This will enable operators to quickly and cost-efficiently build rich, innovative services for their subscribers using Series 60-based devices.

"Nokia has clearly established itself as a world leader in mobile communications and we are pleased to be working closely with them to accelerate the evolution of the mobile user experience," said Al Ramadan, executive vice president and general manager for mobile and devices, Macromedia. "We look forward to bringing together the significant developer communities of both companies to deliver a new generation of digital experiences to an even broader section of the mobile ecosystem."

"We are pleased that Macromedia Flash technology will be embedded into the Series 60 Platform to enhance Series 60 licensees' competitiveness. This co-operation will also address the requirements of the operators who have developed solutions using Flash. The availability of rich Flash content and applications will help drive the adoption of smartphones and increase the operator ARPU," said Antti Vasara, vice president, Nokia Mobile Software Sales and Marketing. "We also welcome all Flash developers and designers to build new compelling applications on Series 60 and to create cutting-edge mobile content."

As part of the collaboration, Macromedia and Nokia will also provide integrated mobile development tool sets that will enable developers to more rapidly and efficiently create compelling Flash content for mobile devices, while leveraging their existing expertise and brand assets. In addition, the companies will also collaborate on technical documentation and other technical support areas.

The Series 60 Platform, built on the Symbian OS, is the world's leading smartphone platform, with millions of devices in the market ready for the deployment of quality mobile applications. It is licensed by some of the foremost mobile phones manufacturers including Lenovo, LG Electronics, Nokia, Panasonic, Samsung, Sendo, and Siemens. The flexibility of Series 60 Platform allows for various hardware designs and software configurations. This is demonstrated through the multitude of Series 60-based phones currently available. Through its award-winning user interface, extensive support for new mobile services, and the innovation potential for partner solutions, Series 60 Platform provides an open and scalable business opportunity to mobile operators and third-party developers. More information on Series 60 is available at www.series60.com .

Macromedia Flash is the most pervasive multimedia standard in the digital world. Macromedia provides authoring tools, servers, and a consistent player, used by millions of worldwide developers to create the most compelling content for digital devices of all kinds. For more information on Flash for mobile, visit www.macromedia.com/mobile .