IBM Boosts Cross-Platform Printing Productivity

BOULDER, CO -- Aug 25, 2004 -- Extending its leadership in print management solutions, IBM Printing Systems today announced enhanced functionality in its Infoprint Manager solution on AIX platforms to natively drive Metacode datastreams. IBM's developments with Infoprint Manager will provide commercial and in-plant print customers with greater control and output management for multi-vendor environments, enabling business growth without the technical and operational complexities traditionally associated with upgrading legacy systems.

Leading this effort is the new support for Line Conditioned Data Stream (LCDS) and Metacode in Infoprint Manager AIX V4.1, establishing IBM as one of the few vendors to natively support these proprietary datastreams. With the LCDS and Metacode feature, Infoprint Manager for AIX can support the datastreams used by Xerox EPS printers, for example, to help reduce operator intervention and take advantage of the Infoprint Manager print management solution. This provides commercial and in-plant printers with the flexibility to handle the diverse print and output needs, without changing existing applications, datastreams and print commands. Alternatively, Infoprint Manager for AIX is supported by a powerful Advanced Function Printing(TM) (AFP(TM)) architecture to combine comprehensive datastream transforms and extensive output management capabilities into a single solution for increased efficiency through innovative features.

"We require a system that automatically senses datastreams and responds to changes in the environment," said Celio Silva, Operations Director, Print Laser. "The new Infoprint Manager AIX V4.1 will allow us to convert printing within a network of multiple vendors from a single point of control. Now we can run multiple, diverse workloads at the same time, even on the same printer." Print Laser, one of the largest print organizations in Brazil, relies on IBM print management solutions to provide electronic documentation services.

Greater Flexibility In Output Management Capabilities
Infoprint Manager software automates printer control to manage multi-vendor printers simultaneously. Using AFP technology, it accepts input from variable datastreams and provides output in both print and electronic forms. In addition, a new Generalized Fax offering has been added to the Infoprint Manager for AIX solution. This allows customers to integrate Infoprint Manager with a fax through a command-line interface or a job ticket fax submission interface, making fax and print output management systems more efficient. Overall, the enhanced solution presents a more effective output management system that leverages existing investments for better support of enterprise objectives.

"Print management solutions are a key component to both being an on demand business and managing costs," said Bruce Otte, worldwide manager of production strategy for IBM Printing Systems. "By offering our customers enhanced capabilities for printing virtually any datastream anywhere across the enterprise, they can leverage the assets they currently own to improve asset and operational productivity."

Infoprint Manager AIX V4.1 is available immediately through select IBM business partners. Organizations already using Infoprint Manager can easily upgrade to V4.1 with the help of local IBM customer representatives. For more information, see www.ibm.com/printers.

About IBM Printing Systems
With more than 40 years' experience helping customers with print solutions, IBM Printing Systems specializes in output solutions for the on demand era. IBM is helping customers link electronic information with the various forms of output choices that businesses need today, while allowing them to improve operations, reduce costs and maximize business value. A leader in production print solutions, print-on-demand technologies, distributed print technologies, one-to-one marketing initiatives and print management software, IBM Printing Systems' offerings include printers, software, consultation, systems integration, supplies, service and support. For more information visit www.ibm.com/printers.