SAN JOSE, Calif.--May 24, 2004-- Adobe Systems Incorporated and the Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development (ACORD) today announced that they are adding additional intelligence to the ACORD insurance forms built in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). By adding support for the ACORD XML data standard to ACORD forms currently available in PDF, members can leverage the ubiquity of the Adobe Reader to extend the reach of their applications inside and outside the firewall. ACORD plans to deliver the ACORD forms using Adobe Designer, a new point-and-click graphical XML form design tool for designing and deploying intelligent forms in Adobe PDF or HTML. Adobe Designer builds on Adobe's XML architecture to support end-to-end document processes. By enabling form designers to include user-defined XML schemas they can use XML vocabularies specific to particular industries or cross-industry standards. "ACORD is the focal point for providing standard insurance forms that meet all regulatory requirements for the life and annuity, and property and casualty markets," said Aziz Hussein, Chief Technology Officer, ACORD. "Adobe PDF is the most popular format for forms among our members. By adding intelligence to ACORD insurance forms, our members will be able to further automate their forms processes." "ACORD forms enable insurance companies to meet compliance requirements and reduce the cost of doing business by accelerating the exchange of business critical information," said Ivan Koon, senior vice president at Adobe. "Today's announcement expands on the strength of PDF and our forms technology in the insurance industry." The newly enhanced ACORD forms will be available on the ACORD website and demonstrated to the ACORD membership at the ACORD LOMA Insurance Systems Forum this week. Adobe also is working with Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro Technologies to provide integration and consulting services for companies deploying end-to-end business processes with ACORD forms and the Adobe Intelligent Document Platform.