With the advent of mobile phone printing apps from HP, Canon and Kodak, it’s no surprise to see that Ricoh has recently released a HotSpot app for BlackBerry Smartphones. HotSpot enables mobile businesspeople to access emails and webpages on their phone or web-connected laptop, and print them from HotSpot printers in designated locations like hotels and print shops. So even if you’re outside the office or in transit, you can still get the printouts you need as long as you have web access.
The printing process looks simple and secure based on the description on the HotSpot website. And from a business standpoint, HotSpot accessibility seems mutually beneficial for both the OEM and local establishments. On one hand, Ricoh sells some printers and plants the seeds for continual toner sales with businesses looking to become Ricoh “HotSpots.” In exchange, these establishments get more foot traffic, exposure, and potential revenue from consumers who stop by to pick up their printouts. In the bigger picture, OEMs are quickly realizing that consumers aren’t tied down to their desktop PCs anymore, and HotSpot is another example of a peripheral literally following its content source to the ends of the Earth.
(Image via Ricoh-usa.com)
