MELBOURNE: Adobe is set to revolutionize the way the world works with documents, with the announcement today of Adobe Document Cloud, building on the success of its Creative and Marketing Clouds, which are radically transforming the creative and marketing professions. Adobe Document Cloud consists of a set of integrated services that use a consistent online profile and personal document hub. People will be able to create, review, approve, sign and track documents whether on a desktop or mobile device. At the heart of Document Cloud is the all-new Adobe Acrobat DC, which will take e-signatures mainstream by delivering free e-signing as part of the integrated solution.
Acrobat DC is a major facet of Document Cloud and has been completely redesigned with mobile applications in mind. Adobe says the new Acrobat DC is packed full of new features to help process and manage PDF documents, as well as touchscreen support and a fresh layout.
Unlike past mobile Acrobat software that shipped with limited functionality, the upcoming Acrobat Mobile will be a full-featured, touch-enabled app with a variety of powerful tools. As an example, a new feature uses Photoshop technology to convert pictures taken with an iPhone into a PDF file that can be edited, signed and even automatically filled with a user’s personal information.
Digital signatures are getting special treatment, as Adobe is launching a tool called Sign Services — formerly Echo Sign — that lets users track a document as it is passed along for multiple signatures. In addition, users can turn to a new mobile app called Fill & Sign to sign documents with a stylus or finger.
Wrapped in Document Cloud, Acrobat relies on Mobile Link to sync across platforms — desktop, mobile and Web — to keep information up to date.
Adobe Acrobat DC and Document Cloud will ship in April. Users can sign up for current versions of Acrobat XI Pro for $14.99 per month, or Acrobat XI Standard for $12.99 per month, each of which will be automatically upgraded to Acrobat DC when it becomes available. Adobe is also planning to offer Acrobat DC as a one-time purchase.
