Adobe understands that not every business that uses forms can afford to set up its LiveCycle server software, a key component of which is the Extensions Server application that enables end users to fill--and save--PDF forms in Adobe Reader.

Jim Healy, chief technology officer of FormRouter, understands that, too. For the last couple of years, his company has appealed to smaller businesses that aren’t quite on the same scale as the average LiveCycle installation, offering them ASP services to keep track of their forms data online, with a simple procedure to get them up and running.

This week FormRouter announced a licensing agreement with Adobe to provide Reader Extensions functionality to businesses via the FormRouter ASP, one form at a time, by “turning on” features locked in Reader that LiveCycle also uses.

In an exclusive interview with PDFzone, Healy explained that his company’s service model makes sense for companies who can’t afford the IT overhead--software, hardware and staff--to implement LiveCycle. In practical terms, he says it means that typically, companies that have fewer than 10 forms or 125 seat licenses and want to use Reader Extensions can set them up more affordably with FormRouter.

“Basically, Adobe has set up its marketing to have all these enormous clients who can spend big money on all the servers, but once they get below a certain level, it’s not practical,” Healy says. “We are now that practical solution that’s going to make it affordable for them.”

So far, universities, small governments--such as county governments--and businesses up to Fortune 50-size have signed up for FormRouter services. Adobe’s on board with it, too.

"We are pleased to be working with FormRouter to further expand the sizable reach of Adobe Reader and to deliver the benefits of Reader Extensions,” says Ryan Hunter, senior product marketing manager for Adobe LiveCycle Reader Extensions. “FormRouter constituents can now download, save, fill in, digitally sign and submit electronic PDF forms at their convenience, dramatically lowering processing costs and virtually eliminating the need for paper-based forms.”

It might not just be the smaller guys who find the FormRouter solution appealing. Larger companies that want to experiment using PDF forms filled via Reader in their workflow can also use FormRouter before purchasing LiveCycle.

Healy envisions his company’s services as a useful test bed, because not only can users add comments to their forms as they can with the Adobe server package, but FormRouter also uses the same GeoTrust digital signature technology Adobe announced last week for Reader.

“There are going to be larger companies who use one form all the time who want to turn it on and get their workflow problem solved--today, we can do this in minutes--but then later they’ll migrate to bigger Adobe products,” Healy says. “For some people, we will be a stepping stone--but for others, we’ll just be the affordable way to do it.”

He also envisions the Reader PDF forms functionality as a showcase for FormRouter’s other services. Once a customer sees what FormRouter can do with PDF forms, Healy says, they might consider using the company’s for HTML forms, too.

“This is enormous for us; we’re the only company that Adobe’s doing this with,” Healy says. “Right now, if you want people to extend the functionality of their Reader they have a couple options: They go to Adobe and spend $65,000-plus on their server software. Or you upgrade [everyone] to Acrobat. Or you buy a tool that’s in violation of the end user license. Or, finally, after five months of negotiation, you come to us.”