Browser company Skyfire has launched the first mobile browser for the Apple iPhone that offers access to videos designed for the Adobe Flash Player. It converts the videos into the H.264 video codec, which – unlike Adobe Flash – is supported by the iPhone and iPod touch. Although games, animations and full applications designed for Flash Player still aren't available, the new Skyfire app is seen by many as resolving a flaw with the iPhone.
As with Skyfire browsers on other platforms, Skyfire 2.0 for iPhone saves battery life and costs by compressing the data it receives from each website. It's available for $2.99 in the Apple App Store or at get.skyfire.com, although unexpectedly high demand has caused Skyfire to suspend sales in order to preserve an acceptable video experience.
Jeff Glueck, CEO of Skyfire, said "Users don’t think about what video technology a site uses. They just want the video to play. With this workaround, Skyfire makes playback possible, while also optimizing the video for mobile screens and networks. That makes it easier to fit video through congested cell towers, saves battery life, and helps users conserve megabytes in their dataplan."