HP to Launch Printer Management Tool Designed for SMBs

While at the Art of Small Business event in San Francisco, Hewlett-Packard introduced on March 28 its HP Easy Printer Care Software 2.2, a printer management tool that allows small and midsize businesses to manage up to 15 HP LaserJet printers and multi-function printers.

Set to release this upcoming June, HP Easy Printer Care Software provides users with a way to evaluate their printer usage using the PUR (Printer Usage Reporting) tool, which tracks supply levels and produces reports that help businesses identify their printing needs.

The reports also feature details on printers by user, time of day, application and printer model. Printers that are capable of delivering these reports are: CLJ3000 CLJ3800, CLJ4005, CLJ4700, CLJ4730 MFP and CLJ CP4005 LJ M3027 MFP, LJ M3035, LJ M4345 MFP, LJ M5025 and LJ M5035

"This is helpful for office managers who need to control expenses and monitor color printer usage," said Tom Codd, director of marketing for Palo Alto, Calif-based HP.

The printer management tool from HP lets business professionals monitor toner cartridge and paper levels for multiple printers through customized alerts while also having the ability to spot potential printing issues before they become a problem and diagnoses printers with personalized troubleshooting guides through HP Proactive Support.

"HP Proactive Support allows businesses to save money by avoiding costly printer repairs while also notifying customers of software updates for their HP LaserJet printers and MFPs, such as new drivers or printer firmware," Codd said.

With HP's printer management tool, users are able to control their color printing by being able to turn off color printing on any compatible printer with color access control with the use of a single screen that shows all color printers on a user's network.

HP Easy Printer Care Software 2.2 also allows users to see which printers are compatible by searching through a local printer folder or on the network while also having the ability to search the network for additional HP printers.

Using HP SureSupply, business users are able to consolidate all reorders for HP supplies into a single form that can be printed and brought to a local reseller as well as ordered online.

HP Easy Printer Care Software 2.2 can be found on the Optional install printer CD provided with HP's newest printers and MFPs or downloaded directly from the HP Web site. It is expected to be available for free download worldwide on June 1, 2007.

Copyright 2007 by Ziff Davis Media, Distributed by United Press International