HP to Reinvent Printers with Internet Access

HP is faced with a problem. For many years the biggest part of the company’s profit relied on the sale of printer ink. With the rise of smartphones the company realized its predicament, as these devices generally do not connect to printers. With these devices users are reading and viewing more content on their mobile phones and they are printing fewer pages.

HP released a statement on Monday outlining their plans for the future, hoping to reverse the trends. HP has introduced new technology that will provide all of its new $99 and up printers with Internet capabilities.

All new devices will have their own e-mail addresses, to which smartphone users can send images or other files they want to print. The new printers will also be able to connect to an HP website, from where users can set specific tasks they want their printers to conduct at certain times.

According to Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president of HP’s imaging and printing group, the new technology will answer demands from customers making it easier to print from any Internet-connected device, including smartphones, netbooks and tablet computers such as Apple’s iPad.