January 10, 2005 San Diego, California - The Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium (MIPC), an industry group developing solutions and implementation guidelines for printing images captured with camera phones, today announced their first set of guidelines for the mobile and printing industry.
This first set of the MIPC Implementation Guidelines sets a common standard which all mobile and printer manufacturers can follow and implement into their products. The guidelines leverage existing connectivity technology standards and solutions, such as Bluetooth(TM) wireless technology, printing from memory cards and PictBridge. As a result, consumers can expect seamless interoperability between a broad base of mobile phones and printers. Any products that follow the MIPC technical guidelines will work with each other in that applicable technology.
"We are proud to deliver the first industry-wide guidelines for printing images from mobile phones, said Ramon Garrido, Chairman of the MIPC and Program Director at HP. "Consumers can be more confident that their mobile phones and printers will indeed work together. The common guidelines make development of solutions for mobile phone printing as easy and reliable as possible."
The "Mobile Imaging Report" (October 11, 2004) forecasts that roughly 370 million digital cameras will be sold in 2005, more than three-quarters (76.29%) of which will be embedded in mobile phones. The dominance of camera-phones, the report said, will impact the imaging market in a variety of ways that will benefit the industry.
The MIPC, which includes leading handset makers and printer manufacturers, was launched last February at PMA 2004, the Photo Marketing Association international convention and trade show. The MIPC was set up to drive standards for providing consumers with a simple and spontaneous experience when printing images taken with camera phones. Since then, the Consortium's members have collaborated on the development of these consumer printing guidelines. The MIPC's recent addition of Korea Telecom Freetel to its Board will bring future focus on wireless infrastructure as it relates to imaging and printing solutions and applications.
The first version of the MIPC Implementation Guidelines is now publicly available and will be provided upon request via the following link: http://www.mobileprinting.org/developers. A Plugfest event is planned for spring 2005 to enable interoperability testing of mobile phones and home printers that have been developed using the MIPC guideline. Detailed information on the Plugfest will be available at the MIPC website.
The Bluetooth trademarks are owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. © Bluetooth SIG, Inc. 2004.
About the Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium
Founded by Canon Inc., Epson and HP in February 2004, the Mobile Imaging and Printing Consortium (MIPC) is a non-profit industry association working to foster collaboration across the hardware, software and wireless technologies involved in mobile imaging and home printing. Additional Board of Director members include Korea Telecom Freetel, NEC, Nokia, Samsung, and Siemens. Other members are Aplix, Flextronics, Fuji Photo Film, Kodak, Lexmark, MCCI, Motorola, Olivetti Tecnost, Olympus, Pixel Magic and Sagem SA. More information on the MIPC is available on the organization's Web site at www.mobileprinting.org.
About Canon
Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leader in the field of professional and consumer imaging equipment and information systems. Canon's extensive range of products includes copiers, Bubble Jet and laser printers, cameras, video equipment, medical equipment and semiconductor-manufacturing equipment. Canon's consolidated net sales for fiscal 2003 (ended December 31, 2003) totaled $29.9 billion (at an exchange rate of JPY107 = US$1). Visit the Canon Inc. website at www.canon.com/index.html.
About Epson
Epson increases its corporate value through its innovative and creative culture. Dedicated to providing its customers with digital image innovation, its main product lines comprise information-related equipment, electronic devices, and precision products. The Epson Group is a network of 84,899 employees in 110 companies around the world and had consolidated sales of 1,413 billion yen in the fiscal year ended March 2004. More information can be found at www.epson.co.jp/e/.
About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. For the fiscal year ending on Oct. 31, 2003, HP revenue totaled $73.1 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.
About KTF
KTF is a mobile arm of KT (Korea Telecom) Group and a leading mobile operator in Korea. KTF provides valuable information & communication services to around more than 11 million subscribers through an advanced mobile network. KTF is continually developing innovative new technologies capable of generating network and multimedia capabilities to bring unlimited telecommunications services any time, anywhere.
About Lexmark
Lexmark International, Inc. (NYSE:LXK) makes it easier for businesses and consumers to move information between the digital and paper worlds. Since its inception in 1991, Lexmark has become a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of printing and imaging solutions for customers in more than 150 countries. Lexmark reported approximately $4.8 billion in revenue in 2003, and can be found on the Internet at www.lexmark.com.
About Motorola
Motorola is a Fortune 100 global communications leader that provides seamless mobility products and solutions across broadband, embedded systems and wireless networks. In your home, auto, workplace, and all spaces in between, seamless mobility means you can reach the people, things and information you need, anywhere, anytime. Seamless mobility harnesses the power of technology convergence and enables smarter, faster, cost-effective and flexible Communication. Motorola had sales of US$27.1 billion in 2003. For more information: www.motorola.com.
About NEC
NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.l) is one of the world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and global base of customers. Ranked as one of the world's top patent-producing companies, NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and had net sales of 4,906 billion yen (approx. $47 billion) in the fiscal year ended March 2004. For additional information, please visit the NEC home page at: www.nec.com.
About Nokia
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations. www.nokia.com
About Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2003 parent company sales of US$36.4 billion and net income of US$5.0 billion. Employing approximately 88,000 people in 89 offices in 46 countries, the company consists of six main business units: Corporate Technology Operations, Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is the world's largest producer of color monitors, color TVs, memory chips, TFT-LCDs and VCRs. For more information, visit, www.samsung.com
About Siemens
Siemens Communications is one of the largest players in the global telecommunications industry. Siemens is the only provider in the market that offers its customers a full-range portfolio, from devices for end users to complex network infrastructures for enterprises and carriers as well as related services. Siemens Communications is the world's innovation leader in convergent technologies, products and services for wireless, fixed and enterprise networks. It is the largest Group within Siemens and operates in more than 160 countries around the world. In fiscal 2004 (year-end September 30), its 60,000-strong workforce posted sales of approximately 18 billion euros.
More about Siemens Communications at www.siemens.com/communications
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