Macromedia releases software upgrades

Software maker Macromedia on Wednesday began shipping new versions of several key products, including its market-leading Dreamweaver Web authoring package.

		Reader Resources Dreamweaver MX prices ColdFusion MX Server prices

As previously reported, the new MX versions of Dreamweaver, ColdFusion application server software and Fireworks animation software are part of a wide-reaching effort by Macromedia to more tightly integrate Web applications with content and allow for smoother presentation.

Besides individual versions of the new applications, Macromedia will offer Studio MX, a package that combines Dreamweaver, the FreeHand 10 illustration tool, a developer version of ColdFusion MX and Flash MX, the new version of the popular animation software.

Analysts are counting on the products to seed new profit growth for Macromedia after an extended fallow period. The company released no major new products in 2001, as it retooled its entire software line to focus on Web applications.

Dreamweaver MX sells for $399, or $199 for those upgrading from previous versions of Dreamweaver or ColdFusion Studio. ColdFusion MX Server Professional Edition costs $799 per server or $549 for the upgrade version. Fireworks MX sells for $299, or $149 for the upgrade. Studio MX is $799 for the full version, $599 for those upgrading from a single Macromedia product or $399 for those upgrading from two products.