Adobe announced that global brands are embracing the Adobe technology platform for rich Internet applications (RIAs) to create new types of engaging experiences for their customers, partners and employees. Adobe RIA technologies, including Adobe AIR and Adobe Flex 3 software, provide companies with a comprehensive solution for the creation and deployment of RIAs for the browser and the desktop.

“RIAs have moved beyond the stage of early adoption. They are being deployed by organizations worldwide that have recognized and embraced this revolution in Web software,” said Kevin Lynch, chief technology officer at Adobe. “The incredible momentum that we are already seeing with Adobe AIR demonstrates the real need for businesses to engage with customers in more effective ways, extending innovative RIAs as first class citizens on the desktop.”

AOL; eBay; The Nasdaq Stock Market, The New York Times Company, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group’s Nick.com, Sharp Corporation and others launched pioneering applications deployed on Adobe AIR.

NASDAQ Market Replay leverages Adobe Flex and Adobe AIR to deliver a RIA on the desktop that enables financial professionals to replay market activity in detail at any point in time, helping investors understand how their orders interacted with the market. The complexities of equity trading are enormous — with millions of orders traveling different paths to central markets. NASDAQ Market Replay lets brokers show their customers what was going on in the market at the time a trade happened, and Adobe AIR allows for instant response to a large data set.

“Creating an application on Adobe AIR lets us deliver valuable data analysis at a lower cost,” said Randall Hopkins, Vice President, The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. “We are entering a world where people will be able to replay important market events — and better understand movement at any given moment in time. This not only helps financial advisors, but gives customers better insight into the market as a whole.”

The New York Times Company launched ShifD, a new RIA that allows users to shift content between computers and mobile devices. ShifD works on — and between — the Web, mobile devices and through a downloadable AIR application, giving people a way to consume media on the go. Developers used AJAX technologies to build both the browser-based version of ShifD and the desktop version deployed on Adobe AIR. The New York Times Company is also developing a blog reader on Adobe AIR.

“ShifD solves the problem of shifting data between all of a user’s Web-enabled devices,” said Michael Zimbalist, vice president, research & development operations, The New York Times Company. “We see a future for device-independent media, with convergence around the user experience and not around any particular delivery platform, which is why Adobe AIR is an excellent choice for ShifD.”

Other companies using Adobe Flex and Adobe AIR to create and deploy RIAs on the desktop include: Atlantic Records, BBC, Business Objects, Deutsche Bank, FedEx, Loyalty Management Group (Nectar), Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group's Neopets and Wilson Sporting Goods. These applications will span social communities, banking and retail experiences, enterprise functionality and interactive games.

Deutsche Bank is utilizing Adobe Flex and Adobe AIR to create a persistent, customer-facing RIA that alerts customers of instruction status and account activity inclusive of balances. Deutsche Bank’s db-direct internet service provides an intuitive and effective online solution for corporate clients and financial institutions to handle their cash management needs. By deploying on Adobe AIR, Deutsche Bank will be able to deliver instant desktop alerts directly to the customer without the need for the client to remain logged into the internet service.

“When it comes to the financial services industry, ease of use, client service and communication are paramount,” said Mike LaCava, Director and Global Head of Internet Channels in Global Transaction Banking at Deutsche Bank. “Our challenge was to combine the right level of personal attention for our clients with an interactive solution that is both dynamic and customizable in the way it provides information back to the customer. With Adobe AIR, we can leverage the power of the desktop and the Web to immediately deliver customized desktop notifications that will keep our clients well-informed and empowered while they carry out their daily activities.”