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Adobe's Photoshop to launch on mobile

Adobe Systems Inc. is letting consumers take photos, upload, view and share their memories through a service that provides multiscreen interactivity.

This is made possible through Adobe's launch of the Photoshop Elements 7 software with new Photoshop.com membership, available for Windows Mobile. The consumer-targeted service makes it easy for users to organize, edit, create and share amazing photos.

"People are collecting massive amounts of photos and have no easy way to get them off of their phone," said Brian Frank, group product manager at Adobe, San Francisco.

"This service will help people get the photos off their device and will also serve as a way to share experiences with friends since photos can be viewed by friends with an account on Photoshop.com," he said.

For the time being, users will not be able to edit the photos from their phones.

"Right now it's about saving storage space," Mr. Frank said. "Mobile phones have quickly evolved into digital wallets that people to use to share their lives through photos with the people they meet.

"But devices are slowly becoming production tools so I can't say users will never be able to edit via mobile," he said.

Photoshop.com members will be able to upload photos directly from their smartphones using the Windows Mobile operating system.

"Part of the strategy here is to extend our products and services to the everyday consumer," Mr. Frank said.

The addition of Photoshop.com Mobile beta, a rich Adobe Flash-based mobile application, offers camera phone users an easy way to upload, share and access photos using their Photoshop.com account.

Photoshop.com Mobile runs in the background and allows consumers to take photos, send messages and play other applications while pictures are being uploaded to their Photoshop.com account.

The service will officially launch in September.

So what do consumers do if they don't have a Windows Mobile phone?

ShoZu is working with Adobe to upload photos to Photoshop.com account from other handsets, including the Apple iPhone, BlackBerry Pearl, Motorola Razr, Nokia 5310 and Nokia 6301.

For Windows Mobile users, the service also acts like a social network. Friends can view pictures as they are loaded and can comment back and tag them.

"We are not finished," Mr. Frank said. "This is only our first foray into a synchronized sharing experience.

"First we plan to make sure the user experience is just right and then we may add more features and different screens to share through," he said. "Obviously there are more than just Windows Mobile users and we will expand onto other mobile platforms like Symbian, RIM and the iPhone.

"Also, it does not end at mobile. We plan to take this wherever flash can run."