After conducting research with over 9 000 customers, Kentucky-based printer manufacturer Lexmark is to include 802.11 wireless technology in most of its new inkjet printers.
Five new models were announced by the company, including the X4550 Wireless All-in-One (AIO - scan-copy-print), the Z1420 Wireless Colour and the X3550 Colour All-in-One with optional wireless. Lexmark says it expects to release a total of 12 new inkjets this year, eight of them with wireless capabilities.
"Wireless is the next big thing for us," says Jeff Willard, VP of worldwide marketing at the Consumer Printer Division. "This is a customer-driven innovation, not something we're forcing on them. And after doing observational research and surveys of our customer base, we discovered that although homes and small offices have evolved to be more mobile, printer technology has not kept pace."
Willard quoted IDC figures showing 31% growth in wireless routers and 23% growth in laptops in the US consumer market.
"Home users use far more wireless technology than before. Eighty-five percent of our customers cited mobility as the primary reason for wireless, 46% for sharing information and 30% time-saving. We need to leverage the growth in wireless networks and laptops with printers that can simply connect to the wireless network instead of being tied to a particular PC."
He says the introduction of affordable wireless printing is a disruptive technology in the tradition of the sub-$1 000 PC and the $99 inkjet. "In February 1997, the first sub-$1 000 PC came out. More people had access to PCs. In November of that year, Lexmark introduced the first $99 inkjet, a similarly disruptive technology."
Lexmark has touted the new X4550 at the most affordable wireless AIO, with speeds of 18ppm colour and 26ppm mono. The cheaper X3550 has similar specifications, but comes without wireless capability. It can be upgraded using an external adapter. The Z1420 is a straight, wireless, colour unit with 24ppm mono and 18ppm colour speeds.
Jeff Meredith, director of product marketing in the Consumer Printer Division, says Lexmark has made key advancements across the entire line in the areas of value, speed, quality, ease of use and consistency.
"We have integrated wireless, smaller and faster printer heads, better entry-level colour quality and longevity, one-touch two-sided printing and the ability to connect thumb drives directly to the printer. Also, supplies will cost much the same as previously."
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