Adobe Systems, founded in 1982, is the darling of many analysts and investors since it consistently produces good financial results quarter after quarter. Although it offers solutions to a complete cross-section of the community, from the home user all the way through to the business user within large corporatAions, it's ever mindful of the changing trends in the marketplace and thus is always looking for ways to raise the bar.

In addition to licensing its own technology to hardware manufacturers, software developers and service providers, it also purchases/licenses technologies from third-party sources that can be incorporated into its own products. One interesting example of the latter is the licensing and incorporation of technology from StreamServe, a company that provides document composition, management and delivery solutions for ECM, ERP and CRM systems. It's just opened a local office in Cape Town that is being run by one of its original founders. However, Adobe is very mindful of the competition that is manifesting itself from powerful players such as Microsoft with its Silverlight product. To this end, not only does it need to attack Microsoft directly with a Linux-based product perhaps, but it should use its recently established Adobe Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation focused on driving positive social change and community improvement. This initiative builds on Adobe's long history of philanthropy that includes grant-making, software donations and training, employee volunteer programmes and education initiatives. The project focuses on making the communities where Adobe operates more vibrant places to live, work and do business.