Canon, HP, Samsung Electronics and Xerox have formed a global non-profit alliance dedicated to promote, simplify and increase accessibility of wireless printing from smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices.
The Mopria Alliance aims to bring together the mobile, software and print industries with the goal of aligning to standards that make printing universally compatible from any mobile device to any printer anywhere.
It aims to break down the barriers between brands by eliminating the need for users to download multiple print drivers and create a better, easier and more accessible user experience for mobile printing.
By standardizing mobile printing technologies, the Mopria Alliance will enable mobile app developers and other industry players to focus resources on innovation and new features beyond maintaining basic print functions.
The alliance will also introduce Mopria brand and use the brand to educate customers and businesses on the ease-of-use of mobile printing. It provides an open environment and tools for software developers to incorporate print into mobile applications.
By the end of 2013, the number of mobile-connected devices will exceed the number of people on Earth, changing the way people do everything from capturing memories to managing work on the go.
It is estimated that nearly 40 percent of employees use their own smart phones in the workplace and in the next three years, the number is expected to increase to 56 percent. While Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend has become the second nature for many employees and businesses, printing from mobile devices has not.
Researches indicate that more than 24% of smartphone and 32%of tablet users want to be able to print from their devices and by 2015, 50% of smart phone users and 58% of tablet users will want to print.
Mopria Alliance will ensure this need is met with simple, ubiquitous wireless print capability across software, mobile and print devices.
Consumers will benefit from the alliance as they will be able to print from their mobile device without having to manually connect to a printer or install software.
Mobile device manufacturers will no longer need to align with each individual printer manufacturer in order to deploy mobile print functionality.
For printer manufacturers, the alliance will also provide ongoing print function compatibility with mobile devices without continual re-engineering and development with different mobile device manufacturers or service providers.
Application designers and developers will increase the value and productivity for their mobile applications by integrating mobile printing through standardized and simplified SDKs and APIs. On the other hand service providers will be able to offer simple accessible mobile printing as a value-add for customers.
