Microsoft Corp. has licensed Adobe's software for viewing online videos and other files on cell phones, according to the company on Monday.

Microsoft says that they will distribute Flash Lite and Reader programs from Adobe Systems Inc. to cell phone makers who use its Windows Mobile software.

Microsoft had announced previously that it is working with Nokia to bring its own Silverlight platform that competes with Adobe Flash to the S60 symbian operating system. Mobile World had then reported that this move will potentially make Silverlight available to around 7% of the mobile phones sold in the market today.

Microsoft also said last month it would give 1 billion students free access to Silverlight and other software that competes with Adobe, such as the Expression Studio.

According to Adobe, over half a billion mobile devices have shipped worldwide with Flash preinstalled, amounting to a 150 year-over-year percent growth.