Lexmark and Macro 4 improve output of business critical information for customers

Venture Computer, the sole distributor in Southern Africa for Lexmark International, today announced that Lexmark`s Optra printers and Macro 4`s Output Management software are certified to work together, allowing enterprise customers to dramatically improve and customise the appearance of business documents, improve decision making and increase overall user satisfaction. Many of these new capabilities could be achieved previously only by writing many lines of specialised, complex code.

"Together, Lexmark and Macro 4 are helping our joint customers get the most out of their hardware and software investments by giving users more flexibility and choices in the appearance of their business critical documents,`` said Richard Fearon, Business Development Director for Venture Computer. "We believe our alliance with Macro 4 will enable enterprises around the world to increase productivity, reduce their total document production and delivery costs and increase user satisfaction and loyalty.``

With Lexmark Optra printers and Macro 4 Output Management software, customers running heterogeneous systems including UNIX, Windows NT and IBM mainframes, can now print on a variety of types of paper, use a number of different fonts and pitch sizes, print on both sides of a sheet of paper and print in both landscape and portrait orientations. Additionally, the two companies will continue working together to enhance future capabilities.

Macro 4`s Output Management solutions manage the delivery of business-critical documents within enterprises from a single point of control more efficiently and cost effectively than traditional methods. Combined with Lexmark`s Optra network laser printers, Macro 4`s software enables end users to receive critical information faster and print high-quality documents in a variety of formats, using a number of options available with Lexmark Optra printers. This flexibility helps make information more useful, improves decision-making and increases overall user satisfaction.

Specifically, joint Macro 4 and Lexmark customers can configure their enterprise printing networks simply and rapidly to utilise many of the advanced capabilities available with Lexmark`s Optra printers. These include duplexing, bin selection and Lexmark`s `SmartSwitch` printer language sensing mode, which automatically detects and switches between printer languages without user intervention. Users also benefit from an integrated solution that manages the delivery of output throughout an enterprise containing a mixture of Windows NT, IBM mainframe and UNIX systems.

"Working together with Lexmark, we will continue to improve the delivery and printing of business-critical information within and between enterprises,`` said Mark Nation, global alliances manager at Macro 4. ``By fully certifying our products with Lexmark`s Optra printers, customers around the world can rest assured that our solutions will work seamlessly together the moment they are installed. In addition, customers can improve business processes and user satisfaction along the way.``

Lexmark, a leading provider of printing solutions for businesses and consumers worldwide, worked closely with Macro 4 to ensure that its Optra T, Optra S and Optra W printers are compliant with current versions of Macro 4 Output Management solutions, UniQPrint Version 3.3 and VTAMPRINT 4.705. The extensive validation process is based on the installation and configuration of Lexmark printers in Macro 4`s printer testing laboratories.