Just like breathing in the real-world, Adobe Air breathes fresh oxygen into the enterprise. Air may likely become a killer app, although in a way different from email. Email is essentially one application. Air is the underpinning of what could well be a vital knowledge worker tool. Essentially, Air is a new approach to programming that resolves some key issues; it works without a browser leveraging the Web, and it works without being connected to the Web. It also crosses all platforms (WIndows, Mac, Linux.) Stop and think about that for a moment. In corporate terms.

Although at this point applications are limited, Air is fast becoming popular with Web development and design firms and if you’re a CMO, CEO or COO, look to hear more about Air over the next months. It is now a good question to ask your Web development agency - what do you know about Air? If they’re not sure, then chances are they don’t quite understand the business value.

So what does Air do? You could develop an Air application like the NY Times that allows people to “shift” or move content from their desktop to their mobile device easily. Workers could have an Air application that sits on their desktop and provides updated information throughout the day related to their work - even as documents are created and shared, an Air application can track them and people can easily access that information, even later when they aren’t connected to the Web. You can take away the massive costs of operating a VPN by creating secure Air applications that push certain information to workers at home or on the road. This adds additional security by restricting what information goes through the Air application.

Air is a programming language, essentially, that takes the concept of “widgets” and really extends them. Now you can access any kind of information on your desktop without opening a browser. The Air apps can work in Windows or Mac, so if you have a mix in infrastructure, then Air is an excellent cost saving way to manage information across multiple platforms. By enabling integration with mobile devices, you extend Air even further into the corporate information infrastructure.

The key factors behind Air are that they significantly reduce application development times, reach multiple operating systems and don’t rely on a browser either. Pay closer attention to how your corporate databases are being developed, worry less about the browser and look at how you can extend information and interaction with information through browser independent applications such as Air.