Help for mobile printing woes
August 24, 2010 by Steve HannafordPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, New Products
You make some last minute changes to a spreadsheet or a presentation in the airplane or the hotel room. The problem: How do you print out a new revised copy?
It’s possible, but it usually takes a multi-step, time consuming process at the hotel business center or the local Staples or FedEx Office. In a world where getting remote access and doing work on the road has become a snap, getting documents printed on the road as just as big a pain as it has ever been.
Ricoh announced that it is expanding its HotSpot solution, to include new multifunctional printers and some new mobile devices.
This system allows you to send a document to HotSpot-enabled machines, either via e-mail or through a dedicated website. The printer sends you back a release code. When you arrive at the printer, you enter the release codes and the document prints out. Documents are saved on the hard disk for 72 hours, and then wiped clean.
The HotSpot approach avoids the need to have an installed driver for the output device, the biggest problem for mobile printing. It works with any originating device connected to the Internet, whether it’s a laptop, or a smartphone like the iPhone or Blackberry.
Printing from a handheld device requires the download of an app. That app can help you locate an available HotSpot printer geographically.
The HotSpot rollout is still in the early stages, but there are already a pretty good number of installed printers on the system, mostly at hotel business centers. In my area (suburban Philadelphia), I can find printers (though Ricoh’s online locator) at various nearby Hiltons, DoubleTrees, Embassy Suites, Marriotts, Sheratons, along with several universities. There are also a large number of installations around the world, from Argentina to Vietnam. We expect this to grow once the technological and financial model proves itself.
Printing from mobile devices is a growing need, and it stands to reason that, as it becomes more and more convenient, it will really take off. Ricoh is establishing itself as one of the leaders in this emerging field.
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Tags: HotSpot, mobile printing, Ricoh
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