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PRINTERS
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for us to access information, cloud services
and apps, and it’s these connected screens
that have resulted in many of us adopting
new ways of working.”
As well as using the same touch
technology as Samsung Galaxy devices,
the new MFPs are believed to be the
printer industry’s first application of haptic
technology, which uses vibration for a more
tactile user experience. The touch screen
also lets you preview, edit and annotate
documents.
“The traditional MFP has a small screen
and user interface. What we’ve done
with the Smart MultiXpress series is put
a 10.1-inch tablet-like full touchscreen
panel on the front of the device, which
enables people to search and print from
web browsers, emails and other types
of content just like they do with mobile
devices, without the need to connect to a
PC or server,” explained Ash.
He added: “Businesses seek smart
printing solutions that can be managed
easily whilst still delivering powerful
performance at reduced costs. Our new
PC-independent print technology provides
increased efficiency and productivity for
a mobile and fluid workplace. And, as
the range is compatible with Samsung’s
XOA (eXtensible Open Architecture)
printing solution platform, models can
be customised to meet specific business
needs. What we’ve done here is to ensure
that super smart is also super simple.”
Another feature likely to be welcomed
by businesses with large numbers of
smartphone users is the optional NFC
Pro accessory. Sold separately, this offers
easy mobile printing from smartphones,
a stronger user authentication process
and improved IT administration, including
the ability to ‘clone’ security settings on
multiple MFPs just by tapping on the NFC
Pro accessory.
The Samsung Smart MultiXpress series
includes three A3 colour MFPs, with print
speeds of 30, 25 and 22 pages per minute;
three A3 mono MFPs, with print speeds of
35, 30 and 25ppm; and four A4 mono MFPs
with print speeds of 53, 45 and 43ppm.
NFC-Enabled
In July, Samsung expanded its range of
A4 colour devices with a new laser printer
and new MFP specially designed for
small and medium-sized businesses. The
ProXpress C2620 and 2670 combine fast
print speeds of 26ppm (colour and mono),
a 4.3in touchscreen display and Near Field
Communication (NFC) technology that
enables smartphone/tablet users to print
from and scan to mobile devices with a
simple tap on the printer.
“Our customers are using their
mobile phones to unlock hotel doors,
make contactless payments and even
access vending machines,” explained Ash.
“Making this available on printing devices
is the next logical step.”
Samsung launched its first entry-level
NFC printer last year, bringing ‘tap to print’
functionality to small office/home office
users. With the ProXpress range, it is now
extending the technology to mainstream
business customers, simplifying printing
from/scanning to mobile devices in the
workplace. NFC technology also supports
Google Cloud Print, offering easier user
registration.
NFC is not just about mobile printing/
scanning. It also eases maintenance and
administration. A smart printer diagnosis
system on the ProXpress series enables
dealers and customers to tap their
smartphone on the printer display to view
and fix printing errors. The printer transmits
its operational status and problem-solving
video clips to the smartphone.
NFC also enables ‘tap to authenticate’,
which saves money by removing the need
for a card reader and gives users access to
their own choice of functions and apps.
In addition to NFC technology, the
new devices are equipped with Samsung’s
open solutions platform (XOA-Web), which
enables third party print solutions to be
integrated, and polymerised toner and a
Rendering Engine for Clean Page (ReCP)
for professional quality colour output.
One tap
Ash points out that NFC is not just about
improving the end user experience, but that
it also has tangible value-add for resellers.
“For dealers, ‘tap to configure’
functionality will save considerable time
(a typical MFP installation takes around ten
minutes) and money. The time dealers’ tech
guys need to be on site is much reduced
and dealers who rely on outsourced
specialist IT support when installing fleets
with multiple devices will see a significant
cost saving,” he said.
Ash adds that the smart printer
diagnosis system provides similar benefits.
“Potentially it could significantly slash the
costs associated with service and onsite
call-outs for dealers, as well as maximise
uptime for end-users,” he said.
As the workplace becomes a ‘mobile
first’ environment and employees spread
their working time across multiple devices
as opposed to relying on a PC to get
the job done, customers are demanding
more flexible solutions. Samsung’s Smart
MultiXpress and ProXpress MFPs meet this
demand, bringing benefits to end users
and resellers alike.
Next year’s model?
It’s becoming a tradition for Samsung to use major
exhibitions as a launchpad for new printer concepts.
This is not merely to garner column inches and win design
awards. According to Ash, it is also an important part of the
product development process.
“We ask our customers what they’d like to see, show them
our ideas and then we bring them to market. Last year, the new
Android printer was a concept design and just 12 months later
we’ve launched a complete range,” he said.
At IFA 2014, Samsung unveiled four concept printers,
collective winners of a
2014 iF Design Award
in the Concept
Design category. These were:
...continued
Mate is a mono printer
with swappable
coloured panels
so that users
can design the
printer to suit
their chosen
colour
scheme.
Vase is a space-saving
mono printer that stands
upright and prints onto
paper fed in from above;
Egg tray is a new type of protective packaging for
toner cartridges made entirely from recycled paper;
One & One is a two-colour
printer that can print in black
plus either blue, magenta or
yellow; and
