Adobe Systems AND Verizon Wireless announced on Wednesday that they have signed an agreement to build Flash animation software into Verizon mobile phones. Adobe, which did not disclose financial terms or potential launch dates, said the deal will make Verizon the first wireless operator in the U.S. to offer mobile phones with built-in Flash technology.

Flash is software used to design animated graphics, slick web sites, video games, movies and advertisements on the web.

The new service will allow customers to view graphic images on their screens more quickly. For Adobe, it pushes the company into the mobile phone market openning a new revenue stream, Adobe Vice President Gary Kovacs said.

Mobile phone companies in Japan such as NTT DoCoMo Inc. already offer Flash content, but success in the U. S.could give California-based Adobe a big revenue bump.

The deal fulfills one of the goals spelled out by Adobe when it acquired Macromedia for $3.4 billion late in 2005.