Adobe released today a free Web-based beta supplement called Acrobat.com for its popular PDF application.

The new beta version presents four major components:

Buzzword - a Flash-based word processor which covers the formatting, tables and image importing amongst other document creation basics; Share – a feature which will be used for online file sharing, allowing the share – receive option for all files, even in non-Adobe formats;  a free PDF file format converter and finally, a personal Web conferencing tool called ConnectNow, which supports up to three conference participants and also permits sharing the computer desktop in order to collaborate on a certain document in real time.

The limited number of participants for the video conferences is most likely meant to attract individuals and businesses to upgrade to Adobe’s Connect Pro.

Adobe decided to use the opportunity to also release Acrobat 9, which is an upgrade to its desktop apps. The main new feature is that the software will support Flash. The upgrade was designed to use only necessary plug-ins and according to the company’s officials, it should perform at least three times faster than Adobe Reader 8. 

"Acrobat.com is a big timesaver in our business and offers enhanced convenience for our clients and us," said Danya Henninger with Imagic Digital, according to CNN Money. "From converting to PDF to delivering large, high-resolution files, Acrobat.com simplifies work all around," he added.

The company has not yet announced the end - date for the test period, but when that time comes, a fee will be charged in order to gain access to a premium Acrobat.com service that will provide a large storage capacity and several other unidentified features.