Printing Goes Mobile

Have you ever tried to print a mail from your BlackBerry phone? If yes, then
no doubt, it would have been very difficult. But soon it would become easier.
Thanks to CloudPrint-an evolving technology.

HP and RIM are all set to bring mobile printing to customers through
CloudPrint for BlackBerry. Both the companies are uniquely positioned to drive
this technology, given their market reach in both printers and hand-held
devices. The technology will give a new dimension to printing because one can
easily locate and print documents directly from their BlackBerry devices without
any special print drivers or cables.

CloudPrint specifically uses the cloud to connect people who want to print
from available printers in their vicinity, allowing the discovery of printers
and hosting the actual driver. It addresses the fact that people and devices are
mobile, but printers are not. Using the cloud as a platform allows users to
print based on need, regardless of location.

The new technology unleashes physical documents from a user's mobile device,
computer and printer, making it simple for people to access and use their
documents while traveling or on the go. It is a cloud and web services based
technology that provide mobile users the ability to easily print documents,
presentations, reports, photos to the nearest network printer-in the offices, at
home or on the road.

CloudPrint is printer agnostic, driver less and requires simple Internet or
intranet access. A user will be able to choose from a list of printers within
his/her enterprise network, home or a participating PSP and simply click print.
Typically, for the experience an enterprise user has to download print button
application from a website. Once installed, the user has access to all the
printers based in that location. The application automatically geo locates the
user, based on GPS, or the user can search based string.

The user then selects a printer from a pull-down menu and clicks print. HP
could deploy secure CloudPrint within the corporate environment and configure
the environment to permit easy discovery of corporate printers by mobile users.

The technology is initially targetted at the enterprise customers only.
CloudPrint, through BlackBerry, is currently available through a limited pilot
program being deployed with various groups at HP and BlackBerry. The early
adopter program is also open to the Indian corporates now.

In the long-term, the technology aims to provide a print network market
place, where consumers can print through their own printers or quickly identify
'CloudPrint Hotspots' or a public printer could be chosen from a list of
printers based on location, desired print quality, and cost. Several business
models, including licensing fees and revenue share are being evaluated through
the pilot program.

The technology is unique and no doubt would be useful. However, the business
viability of the technology could be questioned, as only a handful of people use
BlackBerrry services. The number of those who would be frequently printing from
the BlackBerry would again be a question.

Regulatory issues could not be denied, as well. CloudPrint could not take-off
in some of the information sensitive sectors including defense, BFSI, as the
sensitive information could leak within fraction of a second by using the
technology.

The technology would give a new dimension to the way we print.

Akhilesh Shukla

akhileshs@cybermedia.co.in

The author was hosted in Singapore by HP