InstallAnywhere is a Java

Java (programming language)

Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...

-based software tool for creating installers or software packages

Software package (installation)

In package management systems, which are commonly used with Linux-based operating systems, a package is a specific piece of software which the system can install and uninstall....

, for multiple platforms. InstallAnywhere was originally made by Zero G Software until it was acquired by Macrovision

Macrovision

Rovi Corporation is a globally operating, US-based company that provides guidance technology, entertainment data, copy protection, industry standard networking and media management technology for digital entertainment devices and services...

 in mid-June 2005. With Macrovision's sale of their software group, InstallAnywhere is now owned and supported by Acresso Software. There are two editions of the software, Standard and Enterprise.

In October 2009 Acresso Software announced its name change to Flexera Software

Flexera Software

Flexera Software is a software publisher formerly known as Acresso Software. Among their products are the FlexNet Publisher license manager and the InstallAnywhere and InstallShield installation packagers....

.

History

InstallAnywhere's main competitor was InstallShield

InstallShield

InstallShield is a software tool for creating installers or software packages. InstallShield is primarily used for installing software for Microsoft Windows desktop and server platforms, but it can also be used to manage software applications and packages on a variety of handheld and mobile devices...

 MP (MultiPlatform). However, as Macrovision acquired both InstallShield and InstallAnywhere, it stopped the development of InstallShield MP and encouraged its users to migrate to InstallAnywhere 8. Similarly, there was an InstallAnywhere version that concurrenced InstallShield, called InstallAnywhere.NET (Windows only) based on a product acquisition from ActiveInstall. Again, Macrovision announced its EOL right after the Zero G acquisition, and encouraged InstallAnywhere.NET users to migrate to InstallShield

InstallShield

InstallShield is a software tool for creating installers or software packages. InstallShield is primarily used for installing software for Microsoft Windows desktop and server platforms, but it can also be used to manage software applications and packages on a variety of handheld and mobile devices...

.

Release history

• Version 3.0.2 released beginning of 2000
• Version 3.5 released in September 2000
• Version 3.5.2 released between October 2000 and January 2001
• Version 3.5.3 released on 14 February, 2001
• Version 4.0.1 released on 30 April, 2001
• Version 4.5.3 released on 7 March, 2002
• Version 5.0.7 released on 22 January, 2003
• Version 5.5.3 released on 15 July, 2003
• Version 6.0.0 released on 1 December, 2003
• Version 6.1.0 released on 29 March, 2004
• Version 7.0.0 released on 16 May, 2005
• Version 7.1.0 released on 6 September, 2005
• Version 7.1.3 released on 31 March, 2006
• Version 8.0.0 released on 29 August, 2006
• Version 8.0.1 released on 17 April, 2007
• Version 2008 released on 18 October, 2007
• Version 2008 Value Pack 1 released on 13 March, 2008
• Version 2009 released on 3 November 2008
• Version 2009 Service Pack 1 released on 12 June 2009
• Version 2009 Service Pack 2 released on 10 November 2009
• Version 2010 released on 17 February 2010
• Version 2010 Hotfix released on 17 May 2010
• Version 2010 Service Pack 1 released on 13 August 2010
• Version 2010 Service Pack 1 Hotfix A released on 4 November 2010
• Version 2011 released on 17 May 2011
• Version 2011 SP1 released on 6 July 2011
• Version 2011 SP2 released on 23 September 2011

Note: All versions up to version 2008 Value Pack 1 are EOL.