Printers get GPRS modems

Konica Minolta has started fitting specific models with built-in mobile phones in order to request an engineer or order replacement cartridges, reports Cellular News.

Wireless Logic provides modems to the printer vendor that support conventional GPRS-enabled SIM cards for machine-to-machine connectivity. Once activated, Konica Minolta can monitor each device for usage, consumable usage, and performance.

It automatically re-orders consumables once the supply is running low, and can also diagnose faults or issues by sending an e-mail to the customer organisation and mobilising Konica Minolta to call out an engineer.

Oracle plans to continue to invest in and maintain the independence of OpenOffice.org, the Microsoft Office challenger from Sun Microsystems, states Computerworld.

The database giant says it will also introduce a separate cloud productivity suite similar to Google Docs, according to chief corporate architect, Edward Screven.

Screven says Oracle plans to keep MySQL's sales team independent while improving MySQL's code, support and compatibility with other Oracle apps. Screven oversees MySQL, OpenOffice.org and other open source apps in Oracle's open source software division.

Oc'e says its VarioLink 5522c multifunctional printer has received an Outstanding Achievement Award for energy efficiency from Buyer's Laboratory (BLI), according to Business Wire.

As part of its environmental test reports, BLI measured the energy consumed by the Oc'e VarioLink 5522c MFP in all operating modes, as well as in energy save, idle, and sleep modes.

In addition to reporting on a range of other environment-related features, such as its ability to handle various grades of recycled paper, the report includes a projected annual energy consumption and cost based on real-world usage.