 | By Kathleen Wirth | Search For News Articles |
Industry Veteran Pollack Joins Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A.
July 29, 2010 - Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. has just announced that industry veteran Mark Pollack has joined the company as Vice President of Marketing Communications and Program Development. Read more here.
Xerox, Lexmark, Canon, HP See Surging 2nd-Quarter Profits, Revenue; Laser Printers, SMB Segment Making Strong Recovery
July 28, 2010 - In a sign that economic recovery is becoming stronger in the office-imaging industry, particularly in the small and mid-size business segment, leading vendors Xerox, Lexmark International, Hewlett-Packard and Canon Inc. have reported strong second-quarter results indicating much-increased demand and sales. Read more here.
New A4 Color Printers From Ricoh Start At $1,499, Boast High-Yield Toner Cartridges
July 21, 2010 - Ricoh Americas has introduced two new A4 color laser printers for its dealer and direct channels, the Aficio SP C430DN and SP C431DN, which list at $1,499 and $1,999 respectively. Both printers use exceptionally high-yield toner cartridges, with each cyan, yellow, and magenta cartridge rated to yield 21,000 pages, and a high-yield black cartridge rated to yield 24,000 pages. Read more here
New Canon PIXMA Printers Enable Users To Print Movie Stills; New Systems Start As Low As $69.99
July 20, 2010 - Ever wish you could directly print not just photos captured with your digital camera, but stills from your own recorded movies? Read more here.
New Fiery Send Software For Document Scanning, Conversion And Distribution For Ricoh-Made MFPs
July 19, 2010 - Electronics for Imaging (EFI) has launched Fiery Send Server software for automated document scanning, conversion, and distribution. Read more here.
Xerox Launches New A4 Monochrome MFP Starting At $1,099; Adds New MPS Client
July 15, 2010 - Xerox has announced its latest monochrome A4 addition for small and mid-size, the WorkCentre 3550, which replaces the WorkCentre 4118 and WorkCentre M20 series, and starts at a very economical $1,099 compared to many A4 monochrome MFPs on the market. Read more here.
Konica Minolta Partner To Provide Charge Capability For Scan To/Print From USB Devices, Scan To e-Mail, Copy, Print, Fax
July 13, 2010 - While we're all very familiar with copiers located in places such as libraries and college campuses that require users to drop a few coins in a coin box to make copies, Konica Minolta Business Solutions (KMBS) U.S.A. has signed up with a new partner, ITC Systems, that will also give enterprises the ability to charge for print from and scan to USB flash-memory memory devices, as well as for scan to e-mail. Read more here.
Sharp Bolsters A3 Lineup With 62-PPM MX-623 Monochrome Workgroup MFP July 12, 2010 - Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America (SIICA) has filled out its high-volume monochrome workgroup family with the A3 62-ppm MX-M623, available in two configurations, the MX-M623N and MX-M623U, both of which follow up on the heels of the 75-pmm MX-M753 that Sharp introduced earlier this spring. Read more here.
Konica Minolta Officially Jumps On The A4 Bandwagon In A Big Way With bizhub C35 July 8, 2010 - Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., which announced its entry into the A4 segment earlier this spring at its Power of Performance conference, has begun shipping its first A4 office MFP, the bizhub C35, which runs at 31 ppm in monochrome and color. Read more here.
New A4 Office MFPs From Kyocera Mita Start At $2,649
July 7, 2010 - Kyocera Mita America has launched two new A4 office MFPs, the FS-3140MFP and FS-3040MFP, for its dealer channel. The new MFPs list at $2,979 and $2,649 respectively. Read more here.
Océ 2nd-Quarter Revenue Flat; Color Revenue Continues To Gain; Canon, To Begin Cross-Channel Selling In 2nd Half 2010
July 2, 2010 - Océ N.V. has just reported that revenue for its second-quarter 2010 was € 676 million, matching 2009's second-quarter revenue, which was also € 676 million. Of note that is revenue for color-imaging systems continue to grow, and now represents 33% of revenue, up from 30% in second-quarter 2009. Read more here.
Canon Inc. Fires Off Lawsuit Against Toner-Cartridge Remanufacturers July 1, 2010 - In the latest development in printer-makers' war against cartridge manufacturers, Bloomberg News is reporting that Canon Inc. of Japan has fired off a patent-infringement lawsuit against toner-cartridge remanufacturers and distributors located in China and the United States. Read more here.
HP Completes Palm Acquisition; Launches LaserJet Marketing Campaign July 1, 2010 - Hewlett-Packard has completed its cash acquisition of smartphone-maker Palm Inc. for $5.70 per share. Read more here.
New Xerox Print Advisor Software Helps ColorQube Users Print More Cost-Effectively July 1, 2010 - Xerox has as introduced a new software tool for its ColorQube 9200 Series, which consists of solid-ink color MFPs for higher-volume office use. Read more here.
Konica Minolta Launches Television Ad Campaign For bizhub Brand
June 29, 2010 - Konica Minolta is launching a television ad campaign designed to build brand awareness for its bizhub® color MFPs and printers. The company selected Cronin and Company for the campaign, which will feature two 30-second television spots that will air on national networks, including CBS Sports’ coverage of the PGA Tour. Competitors Xerox and Hewlett-Packard have both recently stepped up their ad campaigns, with Xerox, for instance, running a television ad that pitches its managed print services. Read more here.
Espe Quits Role As Ricoh Americas CEO; Togashi Takes Over June 25, 2010 - In a surprise move, Matthew J. Espe, who was just named Chairman and CEO of Ricoh Americas in April 2010, has resigned, and accepted a position as chairman and CEO of Armstrong World Industries, Inc. Read more here.
New Samsung MFP For SMB With One-Touch Wireless Setup Lists At $249.99
June 23, 2010 - Samsung Electronics America has just introduced its latest MFP for SMB, the laser-based SCX-4623FW, which appears to have a new feature, one-touch Wi-Fi Protected Set-Up. Read more here.
Konica Minolta Inks MPS Deal With Dover Corp.; Announces Top Dealers
June 21, 2010 - Dover Corporation, which consists of a global portfolio of manufacturing companies located throughout 34 countries, has awarded Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. a five-year contract under which Konica will provide the company with MFPs, printers, wide-format systems, and document-management solutions. Read more here.
Why Web-Connected Printers? Wirth Consulting Looks Back At Two That We’ve Tested 
June 16, 2010 - Hewlett-Packard's latest announcement of new Photosmart e-All-in-Ones with e-mail printing and Web apps has renewed interest in Web-connected printers, with many people asking, what is the use or value in Web connectivity or Web applications? How can I use this in the home or office? Wirth Consulting has insight into all of these questions and more--last year, we tested two of the first Web-connected printers, Lexmark's Platinum Pro 905 and Hewlett-Packard's Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web. Following are a sampling of our test results and our observations on Web connectivity and Web apps. Read more here.
HP Launches Next-Generation ePrint Platform--Print Directly Via 
e-Mail
June 7, 2010 - Hewlett-Packard has announced its next-generation printing platform, which transforms the traditional printing process of printing from a desktop computer to a connected printer, to one where users can print from anywhere, from any e-mail-capable device, including smartphones, simply by e-mailing the job to the printer, with no need to connect using cables or networks, and no need for print drivers.
ePrint: If You Can e-Mail It, You Can Print It
Called ePrint, the new model is one spearheaded by Vyomesh I. Joshi, executive vice president of HP's $24 billion Imaging and Printing Group, who sees printing evolving from the computer desktop, to "anywhere-printing" from mobile devices with Web access, "We think by next year, more printing will be done from the Web than from word-processing applications." Read more here.
New Kyocera Mita A4 Printer For SMB Lists At $599
June 8, 2010 - Kyocera Mita America has added a new monochrome desktop laser printer for small and mid-size businesses that it will be distributing through its dealer channel. The A4 FS-1370DN ECOSYS lists at $599, and, at a rated print speed of 37 ppm, fits in in the mid-range of the company's desktop-printer family. Read more here.
News Briefs: Lexmark Wins $127 Million Social Security Printer/MFP Deal; Dell Adds Mobile Printing, Document Management For Office MFPs, 50-PPM B2B Laser Printer
May 27, 2010 - Lexmark International has negotiated a $127 million contract with the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) under which it will supply the SSA with monochrome and color laser printers and MFPs. Read more here.
Xerox Lands $47 Million Contract With State Of Delaware; Agrees To $69 Million ACS Shareholder Settlement
May 25, 2010 - Xerox's nearly acquired Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) has just landed a $47 million contract with the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services's Division. Xerox has also agreed to a $69 million settlement with various ACS shareholders. Read more here.
60-PPM Memjet Ink-Jet Printer With Page-Width Print Head Shown At Ipex
May 20, 2010 - The first commercially available printer to use Memjet ink-jet imaging technology is on display at the Ipex show in the U.K. Read more here.
HP Refiles Ink-Cartridge Patent-Violation Case
May 21, 2010 - Hewlett-Packard has refiled its U.S. Federal District court case alleging that several Asian companies are selling patent-infringing ink cartridges as well as cartridges incorporating stolen components. Read more here.
HP Has All The Bases Covered – 2Q Revenue and Profits Up; Will Integrate Palm WebOS Into Web-Connected Printers - More
May 19, 2010 - Hewlett-Packard reported solid earnings and profits for its second quarter, with revenue up 13% and profits up 25% versus 2nd-quarter 2009. Read more here.
A Closer Look At Remanufactured Ink Cartridges—A Bargain Or Not?
May 18, 2010 - Call it what you will—remanufacturing or refilling—the practice of third-parties refilling and reselling ink and toner cartridges has always roused the ire of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)--as well as their legal staffs--and for good reason, of course, as these supplies represent important recurring revenue streams for OEMs. Read more here.
News Briefs: Lexmark To Acquire Perceptive Software; HP Lands $41.6 Million Homeland Security Deal; Ricoh Adds Blackberry Printing
May 24 2010 -Seeking to broaden its workflow solutions, Lexmark International has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Perceptive Software (www.perceptivesoftware.com), which markets ImageNow Enterprise Content Management (ECM) software, for some $280 million in cash. Read more here.
Xerox Previews Color Production Printer That Uses Solid Ink
May 18, 2010 - At the IPEX 2010 show currently underway in the U.K., Xerox is previewing a new production printer that, unlike the company's traditional office-imaging and production-printing equipment, doesn't use laser imaging technology, but instead uses new the company's solid-ink imaging technology. Read more here.
OKI Refreshes A4 Printer Family With New Mono And Color Printers For SMB Market
May 24, 2010 - OKI Data Americas has added four new A4 color and monochrome printers for small and mid-size businesses that it will be distributing through dealers. The printers use the company's LED-imaging technology, and separate toner and drums; pricing isn't available for the printers or for drums and toner. Read more here.
Power Of Performance Is A Hit! Konica Minolta Brings Channels Together At LA Conference , Launches 1st A4 Color MFP
May 7, 2010 - Earlier this week, Wirth Consulting participated in Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A.'s annual dealer conference, held in sunny downtown Los Angeles. The Power of Performance conference included both Konica Minolta U.S.A.'s dealers and its direct-sales channel, and the message was overall positive, with sales, especially color sales, up, and Konica Minolta U.S.A. making significant headway in several segments. The company also introduced its first A4 color MFP, the bizhub C35, which was greeted with great enthusiasm, and despite being a bit late to the A4 market, Konica Minolta seems to have laid out a good strategy for integrating A4 into its product lineup. Read more here.
Xerox Looks To ACS Acquisition, MPS, Color Printing, For Growth
At an investor conference held last week, Xerox says it's positioned to deliver strong revenue growth, bolstered by its recent acquisition of Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), the acceleration of color in the office and enterprise, and the transition from offset to digital color printing. Read more here.
We Review HP's New LaserJet MFP With Smart Install
On Monday, April 26th, we received a surprise from UPS—the delivery of an early production version of the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet Pro M1212nf MFP so that it can be put through its paces in a What You Should Know Hands-On Test Report.
In case you’ve been living in a cave with no Wi-Fi Internet access, this little gem retails for $199.99 and was just introduced earlier this month. It's HP’s latest and least expensive B/W toner-based (laser) MFP. In our opinion, this littlest LaserJet MFP has something that should make potential customers sit up and take notice. It’s a feature called “Smart Install,” and it's bound to show up on all future LaserJets. Read more here. Watch the video here.
Epson Rolls Out $99 Wireless Ink-Jet All-in-One
May 5, 2010 - Epson America is introducing its first under-$100 color ink-jet All-in-One, the Stylus NX420. Although Epson's saying that the NX420 is the industry's first under-$100 wireless All-in-One, this actually isn't the case, as, for instance, Canon's recently introduced wireless PIXMA MX340 All-in-One retails at $99.99. Read more here.
New A4 $999 OKI Color MFP For SMBs And Dealer Distribution
May 4, 2010 - OKI Data Americas is launching a new A4 color MFP for its dealer channel, the MC560 MFP Plus, which replaces the MC560 MFP. OKI rates the new MFP at up to 32 (black)/20 (color) ppm at 1,200 x 600 dpi, and the system uses the company's LED imaging technology. Read more here.
Eastman Kodak Reports 1st Quarter Profit; 27% Increase For Consumer Ink-Jet Hardware And Ink Sales
April 29, 2010 - Eastman Kodak reported first-quarter 2010 earnings of $119 million, or $0.40 per share, a huge improvement over first-quarter 2009, for which it had reported a $360 million loss. For 2010's first quarter, Kodak, Canon Inc., Xerox, and Lexmark have all reported positive earnings, indicating strengthening recovery in the digital-imaging industry, particularly in the consumer and SMB segments. Read more here.
Lexmark 1st-Quarter Much Better Than Expected--Revenues Up 10%, Earnings Up 61%
April 27, 2010 - Lexmark International has reported first-quarter 2010 revenue of $1.043 billion, up 10% versus 2009's first quarter, while earnings for first-quarter 2010 were $95 million, up 61% versus 2009's first quarter. "Lexmark's first-quarter results were significantly better than expected, reflecting strong customer demand for our hardware and supplies products," noted Lexmark CEO and Chairman Paul J. Curlander. Read more here.
Canon Inc.'s Net Profits Triple In 1st Quarter, Sales Of Laser Printers Double
April 26, 2010 - In yet another sign of recovery among digital-imaging vendors (see Xerox's first-quarter results here), Japanese copier maker Canon Inc. reported that net profit more than tripled for 2010's first quarter, from 17.75 billion yen in first-quarter 2009, to 56.81 billion yen in first-quarter 2010. Canon executive Masahiro Haga noted, "The market for office equipment has bottomed out. We are expecting a gradual and sustained recovery from now on." Read more here.
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Konica Minolta, Canon, Xerox Deliver New Hardware At On Demand Show
April 22, 2010 - While traditionally a "big iron" show, this year's On Demand Conference & Exposition focused on workflow, with cut-sheet digital production systems dominating the floor. The show, which targets commercial printers and print-service providers, many of which have been hard-hit by the recession, was held again at the Philadelphia Convention Center, and was predictably smaller in size than in previous years--a far cry from the huge exhibitions in New York and at other venues in the past, where it seemed the booths stretched on for miles. Read more here.
HP Announces Cloud Printing For BlackBerry Users, Enhanced MPS Solution
April 22, 2010 - Hewlett-Packard's Imaging and Printing Group announced its latest offering for managed print services, Smart Decision Suite, which includes printing from Blackberry smartphones using HP cloud-based printing services, and enhanced management of enterprise print fleets.
The new printing solution for BlackBerrys, called ePrint, is the result of an HP partnership with Research in Motion (maker of BlackBerry), FedEx Office and Hilton Worldwide. Read more here.
Wirth Consulting Publishes Industry’s First Head2Head Test Report
April 16, 2010 - Wirth Consulting has introduced a new Head2Head Hands-On Test Report that compares two imaging devices using test data and analysis gleaned from our What You Should Know (WYSK) Hands-On Test Reports.
The new report features a side-by-side format with a numerical rating (1-5, with 5 being best) for the following performance categories:
Image Quality - Print Productivity and Functionality
- Copy Productivity and Functionality
- Scan Functionality
- Fax Functionality
- Ease of Use
- Client/Management Software
- Hardware Installation
- Software/Network Installation
- Cost Per Page (B/W/Color) and Total Cost of Ownership
- Eco-Friendly Features
Read more here.
Google Cloud Print Would Enables Users To Send Print Jobs Via The Internet, No Print Drivers Needed April 19, 2010 - In an interesting blog post, Mike Jazayeri, group product manager at Google, previewed a new Google project, Google Cloud Print, that would enable users to print to devices without having to install print drivers. Instead, Google Cloud Print would enable any application (Web, desktop, or mobile) on any device, including smartphones, tablets, and notebooks, to print wirelessly to any printer by sending print jobs via the Internet. Read more here.
HP LaserJet Pro Printers, MFPs, Boast New Plug-and-Print For Two-Minute Installation
April 13, 2010 - Hewlett-Packard has launched new "plug and print" LaserJet Pro printers and MFPs with HP Smart Install, a new solution that reduces installation time to as little as two minutes, with no software on CD to install. Wirth Consulting is currently testing the new LaserJet Pro M1212nf.
As HP's videos at HP Smart Install demonstrate, setting up the new printers for direct local printing takes just a few minutes. Remove the printer from its shipping carton, plug in the power cord, turn the printer on, and then connect the printer to your computer workstation with the provided USB cable. Read more here. Watch our video here.
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