Adobe plans to later this month launch the beta of a new runtime that will allow rich web-based applications to run offline, technology that could threaten the popularity of programming platforms such as Java and Microsoft’s .NET.

The release of a developer preview of the runtime, dubbed Apollo, will coincide roughly with an ApolloCamp event Adobe will hold in San Francisco on March 16, according to sources familiar with the company’s plans. ApolloCamp will give developers a chance to kick the tires of the new runtime.

Apollo delivers on the promise of technology Macromedia originally introduced in 2003 called Macromedia Central. Adobe purchased Macromedia in December 2005. Macromedia Central was an environment that allowed Flash-based applications to run offline so they didn’t need to make continuous calls to servers on the back end, allowing them to run more quickly and efficiently.

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