Mumbai: Macromedia Inc has announced the immediate availability of Macromedia JRun 4, the latest release of Macromedia's Java application server focused on providing a fast, reliable J2EE 1.3 compatible platform.

JRun 4 is designed to be an approachable, complete solution for developing and deploying robust Java applications on time and on budget. JRun 4 brings Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE platform) compatibility to a new level of affordability by offering a complete solution including clustering and web services integration in a single product priced at Rs 45,000 per processor.

''Macromedia JRun 4 delivers complete J2EE 1.3 compatibility and includes leading support for web services and server clustering,'' says Macromedia India country head Shriram Krishnamachari. ''With a single product edition and breakthrough pricing, JRun 4 brings a vendor-supported J2EE platform to a new level of affordability.''

JRun 4 simplifies and speeds application development and deployment with hot modification, auto-deployment, and services that provide automatic deployment descriptor and code generation. Additionally, JRun leverages a service-based architecture to simplify server customisation, optimisation, and extensibility. JRun 4 introduces a breakthrough in server clustering technology.

By using Jini network technology, JRun servers dynamically locate their peers in the cluster and eliminate the risk inherent to a single point of failure, which greatly facilitates clustered deployment and increases application reliability. For more detailed information on the new and enhanced features in JRun 4, go to www.macromedia.com/go/jrun4features

''JRun leverages the dynamic nature of Jini network technology to provide powerful J2EE clustering technology that is very easy for developers to employ,'' says Jim Waldo, distinguished engineer, Sun Microsystems Inc. ''Using Jini technology, JRun has created an elegant, peer-based mechanism for services such as Enterprise JavaBeans to discover and collaborate with one another. I am pleased to see Macromedia taking advantage of the adaptive qualities of Jini technology, enabling JRun to provide enhanced productivity, performance, and flexibility for developers.''

Leading companies such as Bank of America, Bass Hotels, FedEx, General Motors, MarketSoft, and Mentor Graphics are among the more than 10,000 companies worldwide that depend on Macromedia JRun to reliably run J2EE compatible applications.

Developers can use the new Macromedia Flash Remoting built into JRun 4 to connect applications running in Macromedia Flash Player to server-side business logic and data, enabling the creation of rich Internet applications that combine the responsiveness and functionality of client/server applications with the reach and low cost deployment of the Internet.

JRun 4 has successfully passed Sun Microsystems' comprehensive J2EE test suite to achieve Sun's J2EE 1.3 compatible brand. JRun 4 implements the latest Java 2 APIs including: JavaServer Pages (JSP) specification 1.2, Java Servlet 2.3, Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) specification 2.0, Java Message Service (JMS) 1.0.2, Java Transaction API (JTA) 1.0, Java Authentication and Authorisation Service (JAAS) 1.0, J2EE Connector Architecture (JCA) 1.0, Java API for XML Parsing (JAXP) 1.1, JavaMail 1.2, and JDBC 2.0.