EFI, in collaboration with Adobe, Xerox and Yahoo, is launching a system that will enable remote printing over the internet, including the ability to accept jobs from mobile phones and other wireless devices such as PDAs.

PrintMe Networks is said to eliminate the need for print drivers or cables and is intended to work with a range of printing devices installed at quickprinters, hotel business centres, airports and offices.
"PrintMe takes the hassle out of printing by allowing people to print anytime, anywhere from any device to any printer," said EFI chief executive Guy Gecht.

According to research commissioned by EFI, the biggest problem for business travellers was printing on location.

It claimed that PrintMe would eliminate the necessity for elaborate back-up plans to enable printing.

There are currently a number of pilot projects involving quickprint firms Sir Speedy in the US and The Printer House in Canada.

Adobe is incorporating a PrintMe button into Acrobat and Xerox plans to use the system in mDoc, its wireless print server software, which will drive its office and production printers.

Story by Barney Cox