MACROMEDIA INTRODUCES FREE FLASH PLAYERS FOR LINUX, SOLARIS, IRIX USERS.

Macromedia Inc. is rolling out free versions of its Flash Player this week for Linux, Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Solaris, and Silicon Graphics Inc.'s Irix platforms. Flash is used for creating high-impact, vector- based Web sites that deliver motion, sound, interactivity, and graphics.

Flash Player versions for UNIX will be available for download at no charge from the Macromedia Web site. Flash already ships with most leading operating systems, media players, and Web browsers, including Windows 98, Mac OS 8.6, America Online 4.0, WebTV, Apple QuickTime, RealNetworks' RealPlayer, and current versions of Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

UNIX-based operating systems act as the backbone for many electronic commerce and other mission-critical applications on the Web today. Now, says Macromedia, IT decision-makers for Linux, Solaris, and Irix systems have access to the latest Flash Player technology as they build the next generation of UNIX-based Web applications.

"The availability of the Flash Player for Solaris allows media-rich content developers to reach large numbers of Sun users in corporate enterprises including financial services, government and education institutions," says Bill Correll, worldwide market development manager of Digital Media at Sun Microsystems. "With the growing trend towards graphic and animation enhanced Web sites, both Macromedia and Sun's Solaris operating environment will continue to gain market and mind share."

Companies using Flash to enhance their online presence with interactivity and dynamic content include Citibank, PepsiCola, Daimler Chrysler, and Nestle. Flash is also a delivery format for content assembled in Macromedia Generator, a server based product that allows dynamic publishers to deliver personalized, real-time Web graphics.

"As an open standard for powering the World's top Web sites, Linux has become a premier choice for Web publishers," says Linux Torvalds, inventor of the Linux operating system. "Now that Macromedia has announced both a free Flash Player for Linux and a free Flash Player source licensing program, Flash offers the best and most widely available solution for viewing high-impact, vector-based Web sites."

An independent study conducted in June by NPD Online Research found that 83 percent of Web browsers had Flash installed, without the need for users to download a player. Over 48 million Web users downloaded the Flash Player during the last quarter, up from 44 million two quarters ago.