All You Need to Know About Wireless Printing
Thanks to Singapore’s rapid roll-out of high-speed internet technologies, most businesses are able to have their office equipment linked to a Wi-Fi network. Wireless internet access aside, another benefit of Wi-Fi is that it allows compatible devices to connect to each other wirelessly.
It’s not just smartphones and computers that have wireless capabilities, technology solutions-oriented companies like Canon now offer a line-up of printers with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. But before you purchase one for your office, here’s a short rundown on things you should know about wireless printers.
Shared printing convenience
Small-to-medium businesses will appreciate a wireless printer’s sharing capability. A single printer, such as the imageCLASS MF4570dw all-in-one, can be utilised by multiple Wi-Fi ready workstations without the need for cables or network ports. With less equipment taking up office space, you have more capacity for other business functions.
Compatible with a variety of devices
All the latest notebooks, smartphones and tablets can easily connect to a wireless network these days. The technology used is quite advanced and wireless printers can now handle multiple users more efficiently than compared to a couple of years ago.
Depending on the ISP and the allocated bandwidth, the minimum 2 Mbps connectivity can cover a radius of more than 50 meters. This is useful for offices that plan to share printers like the high-speed PIXMA MX897, perfect for workstations that are spaced far apart, or for offices that do not have permanent desks for its employees.
Printing via Bluetooth technology
Although seldom used, printing via Bluetooth is quite convenient as it is a feature found in most mobile phones and notebooks. The only disadvantage is that it covers a shorter distance and has a slower transmission rate compared to Wi-Fi, but still makes a good alternative when Wi-Fi is not available.
Bluetooth technology is ideal for portable printers like the PIXMA iP100 and can be brought to exhibits, seminars and tradeshows. Other Canon PIXMA printers also allow Full HD movie print, import of images directly from your Flickr account, and printing via iPhone or Android apps.
Choosing a wireless printer
Buying a printer is an investment, therefore you should do a thorough assessment of the type of printing your company does most frequently—whether it’s photo printing or regular documents. Consider what additional features that may be available which could be useful to your business.
Always ask for a print demonstration to see the speed and the quality of printouts, and request for a brochure to get the full specifications. If possible, bring your notebook or smartphone to test the connectivity and features of the printer.
The future of wireless printing
Recent technology and partnerships are opening doors to more possibilities like Apple’s AirPrint feature, which lets you send photo or documents for printing directly from an iOS device, such as an iPhone or iPad, to a Canon wireless printer.
Also in the works is Google Cloud Print, a service that lets you send documents to your printer over the web; which means you can print from any location that has an Internet connection.
If you want your office to be truly borderless, then having a wireless printer will enable you to have a seamless workflow. This is just one of the ways Canon goes further to find innovative ways to make high-quality printing possible anytime, anywhere.
Click here to learn more about Canon’s wireless and wired all-in-one printers.