Structure and physical properties of the metal(III) nitrides and their solid solutions are reviewed. Thermodynamic parameters of the binary nitrides as well as of the ternary solid solutions are summarized and discussed. Various methods of deposition of epitaxial layers and structures of these materials are described. The metal organic vapor phase epitaxy as the leading epitaxial technology is presented in detail including the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of growth of the metal nitrides. Current optoelectronic and microwave applications of the nitrides are briefly mentioned.