Macromedia today announced the immediate availability of Macromedia Flex 1.5, the newest version of its presentation server and application framework that enables enterprise development teams to put more effective interfaces on critical business applications. Leading organizations in a broad range of industries use Flex to build and deploy rich Internet applications for guided selling, business process automation, and interactive dashboard applications. For more information, or to download Macromedia Flex, visit http://www.macromedia.com/go/flex.

Flex 1.5 includes four key benefits that allow developers to build and deploy more effective applications than ever before: improved data display and visualization, more versatile skinning and styling, additional new deployment platforms, and enhanced performance.

Developers can create more effective data visualization applications using the new interactive charting components and enhanced datagrid. The product’s expanded set of component styles empowers developers to quickly make a broader range of look-and-feel adjustments, while easier skinning allows infinite control over the look and feel of the application. Flex 1.5 includes new support for Oracle Application Server 10g, IBM AIX, and Fujitsu Interstage 6 on the server side, while on the client side developers can deploy their applications to the browser or the Macromedia Central desktop deployment environment. Runtime shared libraries and faster application startup time can dramatically accelerate application downloads and performance.

Additionally, the Macromedia Flex non-commercial license, which enables qualified individuals, including students, technology educators, and individual developers, to build and deploy Flex applications for free, is also available today. To apply for this program, or to obtain more information about the program, visit http://www.macromedia.com/go/flexlicenses.