The relentless pressure of the Web goes like this: One year something's a cutting-edge feature on Google or Amazon, the next people expect it on their 401(k) site, and soon employees wonder why it isn't on the company intranet. IT leaders should know that the use of rich Internet applications are well into that cycle now, with 44% of companies using them, our most recent research finds.Rich Internet apps are Web-based apps written to run with the snap of desktop software, and they can make sites far more engaging and useful -- or end up as expensive eye candy that doesn't serve a business goal. This article spotlights the business and technical problems that can make the difference. And it looks at the different ways companies are building them, from increasingly rich Ajax platforms to big-vendor options such as Adobe's and Microsoft's.

Rich Internet apps might sound like nice-to-have glitz in today's uncertain U.S. economy. No way. Our research shows companies are half as likely to kill a customer-facing project right now as one that doesn't touch the customer, and it's customer-facing uses where rich Internet applications are most often applied.

That's why I look for the momentum building behind RIAs to continue. Let us know what's happening in your companies when it comes to spending on Web enhancements such as rich Internet applications.