Macromedia, Calsoft tie up

Calsoft to distribute & integrate Macromedia Flash Player development kit

Nasdaq-listed Macromedia Inc has entered into a source code licence agreement with Chennai-based California Software Company Ltd (Calsoft).

Under this agreement, Calsoft will licence, distribute and integrate the Macromedia Flash Player Software Development Kit and Macromedia Flash Lite into embedded and handheld devices in India, South Asia and US markets.

Flash Player and Flash Lite licences can be purchased through Calsoft to enable embedded system developers and Original Equipment Manufacturers to include Flash in their devices. Calsoft will also provide consultation to Macromedia licensees on Flash Player porting, verification services and content development services.

Addressing a press conference, Conor Carroll, senior sales head, Macromedia Asia Pacific, said that Macromedia was looking for a suitable licence partner to expand into Indian market and Calsoft's proven history in embedded software development services made the company to partner with Calsoft to expand its business in India.

J K Nair, chief operating officer, Calsoft said that the tie-up would aid embedded engineering software solutions business to grow faster and was expected to bring a couple of million dollar worth of business.

Carroll said that Flash platform has been licenced to a number of technology companies in the last three years. It has over 120 such source code licence agreements with mobile devices' companies, operating system developers and browsers among others. Flash platform components are used to create rich multimedia content, applications and communications.

These licensees have integrated Flash technology into number of products ranging from mobile phones to digital television set top boxes to personal digital assistants to education toys. This is the first such source code licence agreement signed in Indian market.

Carroll said that Indian market offered huge opportunities as a number of companies were exploring the possibilities of using Flash platforms. Its target segments include telecom companies, set top box manufacturers, logistics solution providers, among others.

Calsoft operates in commodities (procurement, trading, risk management), healthcare, education, networking & communications, embedded & mobile systems, CAD, among others.