Software Imaging Brings Laptop-style Printing to Symbian Smartphones

Leading expert in printer driver technology demonstrates the EasyPrint Mobile Printing System at the Symbian Smartphone Show

Oxford, United Kingdom – October 9, 2007 – Software Imaging unveiled today its new EasyPrint Mobile Printing System, which brings an effortless, laptop-like printing experience to Symbian smartphones. EasyPrint will be demonstrated at the Symbian Smartphone Show in London, October 16th and 17th and represents a fundamental shift in how the mobile industry looks at printing.

Printing is a common, “must have” feature in computing today, but is often overlooked in the mobile space. How many people would buy a laptop or desktop computer if it couldn’t print? So few that after years of having laptops on the market, none of the major computer manufacturers have even considered it as an option. Most computer users don’t really think about printing – it’s simply there when they need it. Printing is seamlessly integrated into their programs, printer set-up is straightforward, and they know that printing will be available on any laptop or desktop computer they use.

While mobile industry insiders and analysts like to point to smartphones as “laptop replacements”, the fact is that printing from smartphones is neither easy, seamless, nor ubiquitous. Some phones let you print pictures, or very plain (usually poorly formatted) text to a small range of printers of a single brand. Others offer greater compatibility with different document types, but require a specialized server. None of these solutions offer end-users the straightforward and reliable printing experience that they have come to expect.

Now available to Symbian mobile application developers, handset vendors, and mobile operators, EasyPrint is a complete Symbian OS™ printing infrastructure that allows users to enjoy the same “File > Print” printing experience they are familiar with from their laptop and desktop computers. Select features include:
• Supports printing of all document types – this is not another Bluetooth™ photo printing solution
• Printer discovery & browsing, making initial set-up extremely simple for the user
• Modular connectivity options - print via WLAN, WWAN, Bluetooth, etc.
• Broad printer support, including personal and enterprise laser printers
• Print speed and output quality comparable with that seen from laptop and desktop printing
• Produces output that matches the original document (rather than formatted for a phone’s screen)
• Standardized print interface & features (multiple copies, collation, n-up, paper size, and more)

"The release of EasyPrint reflects our dedication to enhancing the printing experience of Symbian smartphone users worldwide,” said Peter Lismer, CEO of Software Imaging. "Software Imaging brings decades of printing and imaging expertise to the Symbian ecosystem, and the result will be a fundamental change in how mobile application developers, handset manufacturers, and service providers view printing from mobile phones.”

Based in the UK, Software Imaging is well known as one of the most influential and reliable technology providers in the print and imaging industry and is the leader in host-based printer driver development for desktop printers, copiers, and wide-format printers. They have licensed technology to all major suppliers of printers and digital copiers, including Canon, Epson, Hewlett Packard, Konica Minolta, Lexmark, Ricoh, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, and many others. Software Imaging is a member of the Symbian Platinum Partner Program.

"With Symbian smartphones taking on more and more of the functionality offered by laptops, being able to print effortlessly from a smartphone is the next logical step,” said Jerry Panagrossi vice president, US operations Symbian. "Products such as Software Imaging’s EasyPrint Mobile Printing System will help make it even more compelling for business users to leave their laptops at home.”

Software Imaging will be demonstrating the EasyPrint Mobile Printing System in Booth #84 at the Symbian Smartphone Show in London, October 16th and 17th. The EasyPrint demonstration is one stop on the Symbian Smartphone Show Applications Trail; stop by and get your trail map stamped to be in with a chance of winning a Symbian smartphone. To learn more about the product and arrange a meeting at the show, please contact: mobile@softwareimaging.com.

About Symbian Limited

Symbian is a software licensing company that develops and licenses Symbian OS, the market-leading open operating system for advanced, data-enabled mobile phones known as smartphones. Symbian licenses Symbian OS to the world's leading handset manufacturers and has built close co-operative business relationships with leading companies across the mobile industry. During Q2 2007, 18.7 million Symbian smartphones were sold worldwide to over 250 major network operators, bringing the total number of Symbian smartphones shipped up to 30 June 2007 to 145 million. Symbian has its headquarters in London, United Kingdom, with offices in the United Kingdom, United States and Asia (India, P.R. China, Korea, and Japan). For more information, please visit www.symbian.com

About Software Imaging

Software Imaging is the leader in host-based printer driver technology and is well respected as one of the most influential and reliable technology providers in the print and imaging industry.

For over twenty years Software Imaging has been at the forefront of global innovation in print and imaging software, delivering significant time-to-market and cost advantages to customers through its Printer Driver Technologies, Embedded Systems and Specialty Applications. Headquartered in the UK with offices worldwide, Software Imaging licenses technology to the world's largest suppliers of printers, digital copiers, and print-related services.

Software Imaging is actively engaged in the development of printing and imaging solutions for mobile devices, including the EasyPrint Mobile Printing System.

Media Enquiries

Symbian press@symbian.com

Software Imaging mobile@softwareimaging.com

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