US software firm Macromedia has formed an alliance with Chinese Flash company Flashempire, to tap the potential of Flash software in China's mobile communications market.

The companies signed an agreement on Friday in Beijing, allowing Flashempire to distribute Macromedia's Flash software and train and certify users of the software.

Flashempire will also develop applications for Flash animations on mobile phones.

Don Hunt, Macromedia's senior vice-president for worldwide sales, said: "Today's agreement is a major step in building an eco-system for the development of Flash in China."

The US software firm believes applications for its Flash software on mobile phone handsets represent a major opportunity for the firm in China.

Peter O'Conner, Macromedia's vice-president in the Asia Pacific region, said China Mobile will launch Mobile Flash services soon and his company has been in daily communication with the country's dominant wireless operator.

Jiang Hai, general manager of Flashempire, estimated that there are over one million people in China using Macromedia's Flash software to develop Flash animation.

Flashempire, the first professional Flash company in China, has a long history in the industry and its influence on developers and content resources should bring a big boost to co-operation in the industry.

(China Daily May 23, 2005)