Icesoft Technologies announced availability of Icefaces 1.6.0, an upgrade to the company's AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) development environment positioned for building of Web 2.0 applications, on Tuesday.

Featured in the open-source product is integration with the JBoss Seam 1.2 development framework for Java. Icesoft describes Seam as a framework for Web 2.0 application development with Web 2.0 characterized as enabling collaboration.

"Web 2.0 relies on the rich user interface capabilities. Web 2.0 also needs collaborative capabilities," said Steve Maryka, CTO at Icefaces.

Icefaces is based on JSF (JavaServer Faces) but features AJAX. Developers use JSF components and get interactivity based on AJAX.

In addition to supporting AJAX, Seam leverages JSF, Enterprise JavaBeans, Java Portlets and business process management. With Seam, developers can assemble Web applications with annotated Plain Old Java Objects, componentized UI widgets, and little XML, Icesoft said.

Icefaces 1.6.0 also features source code examples, such as the Icefaces + Seam Component Showcase that illustrates an Icefaces component suite functioning within a Seam-based application.

Other features in version 1.6.0 include incorporation of Icesoft's Enterprise Production Suite for handling asynchronous push-style communications with a Web application. Previously available via a commercial license, Enterprise Production Suite is now part of the open-source Icefaces platform.

Integration between Icefaces 1.6.0 and the Liferay Portal engine enables placement of portlets that can be updated without having to refresh an entire Web page.

Compliance with the OpenAjax Hub in Icefaces provides interoperability between JavaScript libraries. An AJAX bridge in version 1.6.0 prevents security violations based on cross-site request forgery exploits.

Other improvements include support for the Glassfish, SAP NetWeaver 2007, and Webtide Jetty application servers as well as integration with Spring Web Flow technology and support for Apache MyFaces Tomahawk components.

Icesoft sells support subscriptions to Icefaces with basic support starting at $2,500 and enterprise-level support priced at $10,000.