Mobile Phone Converging With 'Flash,' Other Apps

TechNewsWorld reports that "Flash-enabled" mobile handsets are one of the hottest trends. The article cites recent research by Strategy Analytics, which forecasted that "there are 38 million flash-enabled mobile phone handsets today, but that number is going to grow to 216 million by 2010. The firm reports that during the last two years, growth has been in the "triple digits" realm for the phones which have Adobe (ADBE) "FlashLite" and "FlashPlayer" technology, enabling the creation of more intuitive, wireless applications, and easier mobile Web surfing."

Stephen Entwistle at Strategy Analytics said, "Over 100 handsets that support FlashLite are already available or pre-announced. The top seven handset manufacturers and several others have signed up with Adobe to license FlashLite on their handsets."

Stuart Robinson at Strategy Analytics noted Japan's NTT DoCoMo (DCM) "offered the first FlashLite-enabled handsets." He said, "They are now available on numerous wireless networks in the Far East, with plans to spread worldwide this year."

John Jackson at Yankee Group said, "Flexible user interfaces are a key differentiator and a significant part of the value creation on devices." He thought "the technologies open the mobile market to a broader base of content and prolific developers."

Jackson added, "This UI [User Interface] and application layer offers enhanced potential for competitive differentiation, compelling branding and personalization options for operators, content providers and device manufacturers alike."

According to Adobe, "a number of the world's biggest electronics manufacturers are currently shipping Flash technology-enabled mobile phones and consumer electronics devices, including Nokia (NOK), Samsung, Sony (SNE), Kodak (EK), Reigncom and more.