Epson 802.11b Wireless Print Server

7The Epson 802.11b wireless print server lets create a wireless link between any Epson networkable inkjet print and a local area network (LAN).

Epson will have a new wireless Ethernet print server available in the second quarter of 2001. With the new print server, you can create a wireless connection between an Epson networkable ink jet printer and a LAN using the IEEE-802.11b communication standard.

The Epson 802.11b wireless print server is an option that attaches to the parallel port of Epson's networkable ink jet printers. The product will provide a data transfer rate of 11Mb per second at a range of 150 to 300 feet (depending on the density of the walls and floors the radio signal passes through). Users can print from various floors of a building, as the 802.11b standard does not require a clear line of sight.

Epson says the product is designed for the following:

Businesses that need network access to a shared ink jet printer that can be moved throughout the office without running cables
Businesses that need flexibility for frequent LAN wiring changes, either throughout their offices or in selected areas
Companies that can't install LAN wiring in their facilities because of building or budget limitations -- such as older buildings, leased space, or temporary sites
Home users who have installed 802.11b home networks or need to print using portable devices

Other companies have entered the wireless printing game, too. In 2000, Xerox and Compaq released MobileDoc, a software application that lets you fax and e-mail documents remotely from cell phones, handheld computers, and pagers; the link is created via a Bluetooth PC card attached in the computer's parallel port that sends radio waves to an antenna. Canon Business Machines, a business unit of Canon, and Troy offer wireless printer connectivity based on Bluetooth technology.