PRINT.IT
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device; and email provides
a very simple and universal
means to transport the data.
Disadvantages lie in the fact
that the path across the cloud
can take a relatively long time.
Moreover, it is primarily a way
to allow a limited number
of mobile employees to
occasionally print in advance
of their return home or to the
office. HP also offers an app,
which mobile users can use to
find out where public ePrint-
capable printers are available.
Printer manufacturers have
noticed they aren’t getting
very far by offering solutions
that only work with their own
printers. As a result, they are
increasingly trying to find ways
to integrate printers from
other manufacturers into their
solutions, even if the range
of features available is often
limited.
Strategies: Google and Apple
Solutions offered by
smartphone heavyweights
Google and Apple take very
different approaches. Google
is focusing on the cloud, with
Google Cloud Print. A device
uses an app to send a file to the
cloud via an HTTPS connection.
From there, the service sends
the print file either to a Google
Cloud-capable printer or to
a computer with Chrome,
which serves as a print server
and sends the file to print. In
contrast to other cloud services,
Google doesn’t use thousands
of print drivers, but rather
one standard process and
potentially the print driver on
the PC.
On the plus side, no print
drivers are required on the
device and the user only needs
a Google account. However,
even Android devices require
their own printing app in order
to use Google Cloud Print
services and only a very small
number of apps, such as the
Gallery, can use the service
directly. Other disadvantages
include the fact that only new
printers support this standard.
Users in the U.S. can use Google
Cloud Print to print files at a
FedEx Office location. Google
is marketing the service as
an alternative to conventional
printer administration in
networks.
Even Apple has taken care
of the issue, if somewhat
belatedly: they have only offered
AirPrint, an OS-integrated
protocol that doesn’t require
any downloads or drivers, since
iOS version 4.2. The rendering
is done directly on the Apple
device and printed via a peer-
to-peer connection on a WiFi
network. The advantage here
is that apps can print directly
via the native iOS menu and
a detour through the cloud is
avoided. Provided the developer
of the app involved considered
the need to print, the user will
not need to open an additional
app in order to print.
The downside is that
AirPrint offers very few options
regarding the design or
optimisation of the print. For
example, you cannot define
the resolution or type of paper.
However, the biggest practical
challenge is similar to that
facing Google Cloud Print: that
printers found in companies
today have a long useful life
and, in spite of widespread
manufacturer support, AirPrint-
enabled printers are still rare.
Print Server and Apps
Since AirPrint-enabled printers
are not widely available, there
also exist print server solutions
that AirPrint-enable standard
USB and network printers.
The xPrintServer from
Lantronix is one. It recognises
all network printers and
connected USB printers via
plug and play and can forward
AirPrint commands to them
without the need to install
new software. iOS devices
communicate with the print
server via Wi-Fi and also
provide additional management
functions via a web interface.
These include authentication
options via Active Directory,
protecting a printer through
authentication queries, and
printer logs that record what
has been printed and when.
The costs are similar to those
of a cheap home printer and
power consumption is less than
one watt – a fraction of what
it would be if a computer was
used as a print server.
Further applications of
mobile printing include apps
such as PrintMe or printerShare,
which can locate and use
printers within WiFi networks,
and ThinPrint Cloudprinter by
Modern printers like the Brother
MFC-J6920DW A3 inkjet come with a
range of connectivity options to suit
mobile and tablet users, including
Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print.
However, this is of no benefit to the
millions of older devices still in use.
Cortado. An account needs
to be created on a computer
connected to the user’s printer
of choice, after which the app
can be used to print via the
cloud. As with the Lantronix
xPrintServer, any printer can be
used, as the app sends the item
to be printed to the connected
computer rather than the printer
itself. However, it shares the
same limitations as Airprint in
that there is little in the way of
printing customisation options.
These limitations are countered
by the fact that the app is free
for personal use.
Where will mobile printing
establish itself?
Today there are numerous
public WiFi hotspots available
and mobile printing could
become a common service
in the future. The ability of
customers to print directly will
become part of the service in
environments that are centered
on business travellers, such as
hotel lobbies, business centres
and airports. It is likely that
universities and companies
that are open to customers will
set up a guest network using
Wi-Fi that is separate from the
company network but linked to
a printer that is able to receive
jobs from AirPrint and Google
Cloud. Mobile printing could
become a paid-for service
in environments like cafés,
schools or libraries and could
be used to make up a small
proportion of the operating
costs of wireless networks. Even
post offices, parcel drop points,
shopping centres and stationery
stores, as well as conventional
printers could become typical
service points. All-in-all, mobile
printing will gradually become
more widespread following
the adoption of plug and play
systems that can be operated
by untrained personnel.
The ability of customers
to print directly will
become part of the
service in environments
that are centered on
business travellers...
Problems arise when
mobile workers are out
and about and want to
print a document from
their smartphone or
tablet.
