Adobe today announced the immediate availability of Macromedia Flash Lite 2 software and Macromedia Flash Player SDK 7, essential technologies for building rich, engaging mobile and device experiences based on Flash technology. Flash Lite 2 is a major new release of the Flash Player for non-PC devices, bringing rich user interfaces to mobile phones and consumer electronics devices worldwide.

"Consumers worldwide demand engaging content and services on their devices -- from mobile phones to cameras, televisions and more," said Al Ramadan, senior vice president of Mobile and Device Solutions at Adobe. "Flash Lite 2 and Flash Player SDK 7 can unlock the potential for mobile handset and consumer electronics manufacturers to successfully deploy truly compelling digital experiences."

Flash Lite 2 and Flash Player SDK 7 enable OEMs, consumer electronics device manufacturers and operators to provide rich, customizable user interfaces, while delivering more consistent consumer experiences across devices, operating systems, processors and screen sizes.

Both Flash Lite 2 and Flash Player SDK 7 are built on the ubiquitous Flash Player 7, and include ActionScript 2 support, Unicode support for international markets, tighter device integration, persistent data management, reduced memory consumption and improved XML data handling. Also available for preview today is an update to Flash Professional 8, which allows mobile designers and developers to take advantage of the new capabilities of Flash Lite 2.

Devices powered by Flash Lite 2 and Flash Player SDK 7 are anticipated to be available later this year.