Adobe took an important step in merging desktop and Internet applications upon announcing the availability of AIR 1.0 (Adobe Integrated Runtime), a runtime environment based on an open-source technology that constantly updates Web information based on the user’s routine and makes it accessible anytime, anywhere, without requiring a Web browser.

Since the release of the beta version of AIR, several organizations already adopted the technology; among them, NASDAQ Stock Market Inc, AOL, EBay and many others. According to its developers, AIR will reduce download time due to the fact that the desktop is constantly being updated while connected to the Internet.

Adobe AIR is a cross-operating system combining HTML, Ajax, Flash and Flex to bring rich Internet applications (RIAs) to 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, according to a press release.

“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,” Lynch added.

The importance of the AIR technology will become invaluable in the future, as it will permit the replay of data at a certain point in time, which is why NASDAQ chose to test the beta version: “Creating an application on Adobe AIR lets us deliver valuable data analysis at a lower cost,” Randall Hopkins, Vice President of The NASDAQ Stock Market Inc. said.

Adobe also released Flex 3, a free open source framework intended to build and maintain rich Internet applications (RIAs). Adobe Flex Builder 3 is a tool that supports RIAs deployment on Adobe AIR and comes with Adobe Creative Suite 3, improving RIAs performance. At the same time, Adobe announced BlazeDS, an open tool intended to boost rich Internet applications.