Documents That Read You, While You Read Them

Eye Tracking and Text 2.0

Ok, this is sort weird but...this software lets the book read you, as you read it.

Check it out.



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Photizo Group: Managed Print Services Conference 2010: Words with Ed Crowley

With the show of shows countdown approaching the "hours seem like days " stage, getting time with anyone over at Photizo is difficult - understandable.

I was able to pose three quick questions with the man himself.

1. What is the most you can hope for out of the con next week?

2. What is the biggest difference between this year in MPS and last year?

and

3. What is your favorite whiskey?

1. DOTC - What is the most you can hope for out of the con next week?

Ed - My biggest hope for the conference next week is that everyone walks away saying, "Wow, I achieved a great return on the time I invested in this. I will definitely be back next year!"

2. DOTC - What is the biggest difference between this year in MPS and last year?

Ed - The biggest difference between this year and last year.

That's an interesting question.

I think the biggest difference is that last year the question was, "Are these guys really going to be able to pull this off?".

This year I don't think there were any doubts about whether we could pull it off. The only question was can we make the content even more relevant and insightful than last year?

And I think the answer is definitely yes!

3. DOTC - What is your favorite whiskey?

Now, on the question of whiskey, as a Kentucky native I really can't comment on Whiskey (that would be a question for a Tennessee person), but if you asked about Bourbon, that would have to be Woodford Reserve (since we live in Woodford County)!

####

Ah yes, Ed is a true Kentuckian - bourbon, most xlint.

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Much Ado About NOTHING: Output Device Hard Drive security - of course, Congress has to Get involved - more waste!

Deficit?

Unemployment?

Crazy, religious zealots wanting to Nuke us and our friends?

Failing public education, yet successful indoctrination of our yoots ?

The heart and soul of a society?

The DEATH OF THE AMERICAN WAY?

You would think that with the above and oh so many other concerns, like regulating the substance we exhale(WTF!), congress would have many more important things to do.

Apparently not.

Congressman Edward Markey (D-MA) sent a letter today to the head of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) calling for an investigation into the, "retention of documents on the hard drives of digital copy machines..."

This is stupid, fear mongering, and yet so damn predictable.

Before you go off thinking I don't recognize this a real issue - I do, I did, back in 1999. That is not the problem.

The problem is simply this, the congress, indeed this administration, is using any perceived fear to leverage their way into the free market rendering the market a little less "free" with every effort. And right next to them, shoulder to shoulder, is CBS - the Dan Rather, made up letters, the Murphy Brown, a fictitious character, who takes on the spelling skills of a sitting Vice President of America, a non-fictional character - network.

Can the hard drives hold sensitive data? Yes.

Has the "industry", known this from the beginning? Yes.

Have these same industry players openly addressed the issue and presented solutions? Not all. But some have.

Have clients known about this issue? Not all, but those who were smart enough to see the potential, they acted. Some purchasing the hard drives out right at lease end. I know for certain, The Church of Scientology, has been practicing this level of security for at least a decade.

How come they were so smart 5 years ago and the manager at a Tommy Bahama's restaurant in Scottsdale isn't? Well, it's not his job.

And how does this figure into Managed Print Services?

It's so classic, it is almost nauseating.

Let's remember Stage One of the MPS adoption model - Control. Within this stage is the requirement of there being "one decision making entity". This addresses the "facilities handles copiers", and "IT handles printers" mentality. MPS can not exist if there are two separate decision making teams involved with output concerns.

Throw in the fact that IT is usually responsible for supporting corporate, IT, security policies - not facilities; not Purchasing - and we have a predictable, security hole.

So What?

This industry can regulate itself - we don't need any help from a congressman from MA.

Although...how delicious is it going to be when Veejay, Espe, and all the others from Canon, Ricoh, Konica, Kyocera, Oki, Brother, Lexmark and Panasonic are sitting at the same table, being grilled by congress - hide the Katana's!

Story here. I need a drink.

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Netaphor Launches Major New Version of Managed Print Services Tool

Press Release:

Netaphor Launches Major New Version of Managed Print Services Tool

SiteAudit Version 4.0 from Netaphor Software offers the most comprehensive reporting capabilities and Key Performance Indicators in the managed print services (MPS) industry.

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) April 29, 2010 -- Netaphor, a provider of managed print services (MPS) software, today announced a major new version of its SiteAudit tool. SiteAudit 4.0 offers the capability to create an unlimited set of Web reports covering all aspects of a printer fleet’s performance in the areas of inventory, supplies, and service.

10 Things I Am Looking For at Managed Print Services Con 2010

It's a list of my expectations for the MPS Conference next week.

My singular hope is that something, one thing, anything, may turn up to be just as intriguing and refreshing...

10. What's working and what isn't...

9. For the last time, what is MPS...

8. Who thinks they have it all figured out...

7. MPS training, should we scratch it all and start over...

6. Are there any organic, MPS Selling Professionals...

5. How is all that national, retail office supply, MPS activity working out...

4. BTA types, do you have a bad taste in your mouth, or what...

3. Who is going to stand up and say, "MPS and SLED/GEM do not mix..."

2. How far along is the DeathOfPrint...really...

1. A year from now, what say you...

Kinda makes you want to go green, doesn't she?

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Free Photizo Webcasts Offer Live Coverage of MPSA General Assembly at North American MPS Conference

Other key MPS Conference sessions also offered

LEXINGTON, KY – April 28, 2010 – Photizo Group and MPSInsights.com will host a free webcast of the MPSA General Assembly live from the 2010 North American MPS Conference, and interactive chat will let viewers participate during the session. The MPSA Annual Meeting and General Session led by MPSA President Jim Fitzpatrick takes place May 5 from 4:45-5:30 pm Central.

In addition, a number of other MPS Conference sessions will also be webcast free of charge from MPSInsights.com, providing viewers with a sample of the MPS Conference. With the North American conference nearing a capacity audience, the webcasts will make portions of the event content available to more people.


“This year’s MPS North America Conference continues the high standard that has been set at each event in the MPS Conference series, and the agenda is loaded with excellent content. We recognize the crucial need for information in this dynamic market, and through these free webcasts, Photizo hopes to extend the educational opportunity a little wider across the MPS community,” said Ed Crowley, President of the Photizo Group.

MPSInsights.com Webcast Schedule: (All sessions are Central time.)

Tuesday, May 4

· 9:15-10:15 am; Ed Crowley--Photizo Group, State of the Industry

· 10:30-11:30 am; John MacInne--Print Audit, Scott Bonck--IKON, Adding Print Rules to Your MPS Program

· 3:00-4:00 pm; Lawton Smith--DirectPointe, SharePoint Servers As a Building Block for Stage 3 Engagements

Wednesday, May 5

· 8:15-9:00 am; Jason Evans--PEQ Services Solutions, Keynote Address

· 9:45-10:45 am; Jose Luis Parga--Pulsartec, Is Selling MPS to SMBs Profitable?

· 1:30-2:30 pm; Greg Walters--SIGMAnet, David Cameron--Photizo Group, Changing Dealer Business Models; Myth vs. Reality

· 4:45-5:30 pm; MPSA Annual Meeting and General Session led by Jim Fitzpatrick, MPSA President

Webcast video access and other information are available at MPSInsights.com.


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"I have seen the future of Managed Print Services, and its name is Bruce Springsteen."

4/2010

A bit of a stretch, but stay with me here.

"...in 1974, 25-year-old Bruce Springsteen played at the Harvard Square Theater in Cambridge.

Although popular with the college crowd in the Northeast, Springsteen was not yet a star.

That night, he and the E Street Band opened for Bonnie Raitt.

The influential music critic Jon Landau was in the audience. Overwhelmed by what he heard, Landau wrote,

"I saw my rock and roll past flash before my eyes. I saw something else: I saw rock and roll's future and its name is Bruce Springsteen."

In the years since that momentous spring night in Cambridge, the Boss has had 14 albums go platinum, has won 11 Grammies and an Oscar and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame..."

Back in those days, stars were truly discovered. Crowds were organic, not Twitter-induced - the "buzz" was real.

This is way before MTV, before "57 Channels", email, the internet, Facebook, blow dryers and teeth whitening. The music was real.

To know Bruce back then was to either hate him or love him. And the Bruce fans were nuts, unique, outside of the norm - to the right of the bell curve.

His shows today are intense, but back then, the 4-hour sessions skyrocketed up and over the religious. Not because he demanded so much from his band, all of them willing accomplices, but Bruce did more - he demanded more from his audience.

From everyone within hear shot. Those of us in the very last seat, to the fans behind the stage, to the high rollers in the front row - if you didn't believe in Rock n Roll after one of his concerts, you didn't have a pulse.

One of the most interesting things I remember from those glory days - well, not back in 1974 - I consider myself a "second-gen" Bruce fan, from the Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town era - I think back to how we fans stuck together. How while standing in line to get into a show, we all had that "cat who ate the mouse" look.

The nod, the smile from fan to fan - we were in for something special, something not everybody "got" and that was fine with us. Actually, we preferred it this way. Bruce was ours. Not everyone's. And as much as we wanted to keep this a secret, we all knew that someday, Bruce would be moving out of the smaller venues into the mega-shows, the real world, mainstream.

And so it is with Managed Print Services - our Secret Garden, we lucky few who shared a wink and a nod, over a year ago in San Antonio, we are about to lose to the rest of the world, this special, undefinable "thing".

It's been a year, another turn of the globe, and MPS has just about come full circle.

The "big guys" have now gotten it right.

I rail against the titans, the over publicized global MPS takedowns less than 5% of us will ever see. The over-exposed CPC to MPS conversions straight out of MIF, touted as examples of MPS.

And yes, I protest the lack of human touch extolled by heartless MPS programs.

I challenge, I poke, I prod, I mock. Yet, deep down, I know the exercise is tragic if not futile. One step up, and two steps down.

You see, there is a part of me fighting to keep MPS bottled up, pure. Sure, me, the dark skeptic, exposed as an eternal optimist, even as the genie evaporates out for all to see.

The lack of MPS purity, I feel, has led to the detriment of so many MPS programs; Konica Minolta OPS, Samsung MPS Platform, the Lexmark thing, HP MPS redefining the size of an enterprise account down to SMB, from PagePack 1.0 to PagePack 3.0(there never was a 2.0) on and on.

And all those failed BTA/MPS programs, doomed from the very beginning, taking with them, bright-eyed and hopeful copier salespeople or service managers christened as MPS experts. Such a waste.

To be sure there are many, many bright spots - Great America offering leasing and MPS training, not to mention advice on how to hire MPS people.

Synnex, delivering just in time, HP OEM, and utilizing Stephen Power - the only old skool mentor who gets it.

And the Photizo Group, how frustrating it must be to see your work, copied and regurgitated as new; complete trade shows themed on your descriptive: The Hybrid Dealer. I mean, flattery can only go so far.

So, after a year, where are we now? Indeed, after three, where do you stand now?

For me, it's a realization that this has finally gotten bigger than us.

MPS is hitting the mainstream, the time for defining is passed, those of us who may have felt at one time in control of destiny, need to simply hang on, and make the best of it.

Those intimate Springsteen shows were special, a point in time that can never be duplicated, except in memory.

But the sheer, awesome, spectacle that is a Springsteen arena show, even if mainstream, is glorious.

As I consider the past 12 months, "I saw my printer and copier past flash before my eyes. I saw something else: I saw MPS's future and its name is (fill in the blank)."

All is not lost - there are more windmills for us to charge on this MPS landscape - all it takes is a Leap of Faith, I think we should keep taking those tickets from the fat man, living the runaway American Dream.

Because, ultimately, I still haven't found, what I'm looking for...



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DOTC To Speak At Managed Print Services Conference: Changing Business Models, Myth vs. Reality

It will be my honor to discuss the above mentioned subject to interested parties.

Indeed, it is my honor to be presenting along side David Cameron from the Photizo Group - we are working diligently on our action-packed, thrilling based, hour of intrigue.

So, Myth vs. Reality - what say you?

There are a couple of polls out here, one over at P4P and another from Photizo, that show 50% of the folks who got into MPS are unsatisfied.

And recently, while attending a 1.5 day, MPS training seminar, I heard only 4% of today's, standard, BTA, copier dealership's revenue can be attributed to MPS engagements.

For all the flash generated by MPS, there seems to be little heat.

Well, an hour session in San Antonio won't quell the queries. More then likely, the mystery will continue - and perhaps that is part of the problem.

By now you know you won't find all the answers in some session at iTEX.

The heavens do not open up, illuminating the path toward MPS enlightenment, after 18 weeks of MPS boot camp/conference calls.

And unfortunately you may have found out your dire situation, if in the first hour of MPS training, the instructor tells you, "MPS is just like color was when it first came out..."

So, will you reach a higher level of MPS Nirvana after participating in our palaver?

Good lord I hope not, there are far too many MPS-Geeks, like me, out here already. Yes, we actually believe in some sort of MPS Nirvana - so sad.

Also, you may ask, will the Girls of DOTC be bouncing around, painted gold, and munching fishies?

If it were my show exclusively, you bet your sweet bippy the stripper polls would be out.

Alas, it is not my circus but Ed's - much more refined and dignified.

A good time will be had by all.

See you there!

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More Higher Education and Managed Print Services: Down the Rabbit Hole You Go

Andy West, over at the Los Angeles Chronicle has nifty little article outlining how higher education can benefit from MPS.

To summarize his take:

Bad economic times
Organizations looking for places to cut or reduce
MPS can reduce overhead
Educators will see the benefits by not needing so many toner cartridges
MPS can help prevent further cutbacks

Huh - doesn't sound all that bad, except if schools were really serious about reducing costs, they would be reducing the number of non-teaching, admin and "support" staff.

MPS has nothing to do with Education, because the education "market" isn't a free market.

From Andy's article, regarding implementing a Managed Print Services program,

"...When this is properly done, a sound print management strategy can save money, reduce environmental waste, free up IT resources time and extend the useable lifetime of printers. All of this can add up to huge savings for the education industry..."

Well, as incredibly obvious to us as this statement is, many outside our niche, customers and prospects to be specific, still need others to point out good ideas.

Interesting point here, further investigation into the author reveals a diverse field of subjects previously penned. For instance, "The Value of Using a Walker" or "Finding Life Insurance in Australia" and "The Different Types of Shuffleboard Games One Can Play".

Obviously, Andy makes a living writing, so I am not criticizing his occupation, I don't even disagree with his content.

Just some interesting background that indicates more about how MPS is now mainstream.

More from his article:

"With the economic challenges facing the education industry, now seems to be the perfect time for educational leaders to consider the benefits of managed print services. With print management, educators can save significant amounts of money. This savings can help prevent future cutbacks and meet today´s tight budgets. Enjoy the benefits to a print management program today!"

Again, can't argue with this.

I wonder if an audience of educators would really "get" this MPS thing...makes you go, "ummmm"...doesn't it?

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US Treasury Going Green to Save Green - When did the Jungle become a "Rain Forest" Anyway?

Broad New Initiative Will Increase Electronic Transactions, Save More Than $400 Million, 12 Million Pounds of Paper in First Five Years Alone

WASHINGTON – With Americans poised to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day this week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced a broad new initiative to dramatically increase the number of electronic transactions that involve Treasury and millions of citizens and businesses, a move that is expected to save more than $400 million and 12 million pounds of paper in the first five years alone.

In addition to greatly reducing costs, enhancing customer service and minimizing Treasury's environmental impact, the move from paper to electronic transactions will increase reliability, safety and security for benefit recipients and taxpayers.

Moving to more direct deposit, the use of Treasury's Direct Express debit cards, and fewer paper T-Bills.

"Treasury must lead the way in developing methods to deliver payments that are safe and secure in a manner that is efficient and reliable," said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. "By moving to all-electronic payments, Treasury will save hundreds of millions of dollars and substantially reduce our environmental impact, making this a win-win for all Americans."

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Toshiba Ups the Managed Print Services Ante: LEAD2010

IRVINE, Calif. - (Business Wire) Toshiba America Business Solutions (TABS) is launching an entirely new series of interactive hands-on workshops designed to provide office technology dealers with structure, product knowledge, and tools to help them succeed in selling and implementing Managed Print and Professional Services.

The first-ever seminar series of its kind offered by Toshiba, LEAD 2010 is a free two-day conference that will be held at four convenient locations nationwide this summer, including Washington, D.C. (June 15-16), Dallas (June 22-23), Irvine, Calif. (July 14 and 15), and Chicago (July 19 and 20).

The conference has been designed for three professional tracks including: sales, service and consulting. Anyone who is implementing or merely beginning to develop a Managed Print Services (MPS) program is encouraged to attend. Participation in the seminars is free and there is no limit to the number of people per dealership who can attend. Speakers will include MPS experts from Toshiba, HP, Lexmark and Strategy Development. There also will be a networking reception on the first night of each city’s conference.

“Since Toshiba developed the first MPS program seven years ago, global economics and the industry have experienced dramatic changes. As a result, the demand for Managed Print Services has skyrocketed and what was once a program experiencing gradual dealer adoption has quickly become an integral and necessary element of their business,” said Bill Melo, vice president, Marketing and Enterprise Services and Solutions, TABS.

“As one of the MPS pioneers, our goal is to help our dealer professionals learn everything from best practices for building a sales team, to performing Encompass Security Vulnerability Assessments and addressing customer security needs, to addressing each customer’s unique sustainability requirements and delivering an accurate Encompass Green Report identifying opportunities for reducing a company’s carbon footprint and saving costs.”

LEAD 2010 Registration

LEAD 2010 will include speaker presentations as well as activities with problem solving and role playing. There is no cost to register and no limit to the number of people per dealership who can attend. For more information or to register for LEAD 2010, please go to www.toshibamedia.net/lead2010/index.

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Possible Bribes in Russia by HP in Germany

Raids took place last week in Russia and Germany on HP offices and by Russian Prosecutors.

If there is anything more frightening then 60 Minutes at the front door, its a group of Russian prosecutors.

The investigation revolves around suspected bribes, occurring seven years ago.
German investigators are looking into possible corruption linked to a $47 million sale of computers to Russia. They are examining whether the company paid bribes to win the contract, Wolfgang Klein, a spokesman at Saxony’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office, said.

Under the lamp, nine people are being investigated for breach of trust.

Apparently, the suspects may have set up a system of sham companies and contracts, leading to 8 million euros ($10.8 million) in improper payments.

“It is unclear where these 8 million euros went,” Klein said from Dresden. “I don’t want to use the word bribes to say what they were used for, but we’re looking into that.”

Resonating here at Home -

"Even if senior management doesn't know about it, that doesn't give the company a pass," said John Davis, an FCPA expert at the Miller Chevalier law firm in Washington, D.C.

In the current political climate, a linkage between these possible bribes and former CEO Carly Fiorina’s run for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Democrat Barbara Boxer, is being bantered about.

From Rich Smith, at the Motley Fool,

"...Tempest in a Russian tea glass

Here's a quick rundown of the allegations against HP. Back in 2003, Russia's Prosecutor General's office put up for bid a contract for sophisticated computer equipment. HP won the $48 million deal, but in order to do so, it allegedly had to pay out $11 million in bribes, parceled out through bills for nonexistent services, and paid to middlemen through an extended series of shell companies ranging from Belize to Latvia to Switzerland..."

Go over to his article here, he does a pretty good job summarizing and explaining.

More here.

Here.


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Education, Managed Print Services and Reducing Costs? It Will Never Work.

Managed Print Services Market Shows Strong Commitment to North American MPS Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 15, 2010

Sold-out exhibits, expanded sessions signal enthusiastic interest from MPS end users and providers

LEXINGTON, KY -- The managed print services market continues to command attention from channel pros and end users alike, and the North American market has long been one of the most active arenas, with a history of over ten years of MPS engagements. North America accounted for 50 percent of the total global MPS market in 2008, and it continues to grow at a healthy 27 percent compounded annual growth rate.

To keep the momentum, MPS end users and providers have sought and found information and contacts at forums like the annual MPS Conferences. The market has responded enthusiastically to the upcoming 2010 North American MPS Conference May 3-5 in San Antonio, TX. Exhibit space is sold out, and the agenda has been expanded to three speaking tracks to accommodate increased attendance and interest.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 15, 2010

Sold-out exhibits, expanded sessions signal enthusiastic interest from MPS end users and providers

LEXINGTON, KY -- The managed print services market continues to command attention from channel pros and end users alike, and the North American market has long been one of the most active arenas, with a history of over ten years of MPS engagements. North America accounted for 50 percent of the total global MPS market in 2008, and it continues to grow at a healthy 27 percent compounded annual growth rate.

To keep the momentum, MPS end users and providers have sought and found information and contacts at forums like the annual MPS Conferences. The market has responded enthusiastically to the upcoming 2010 North American MPS Conference May 3-5 in San Antonio, TX. Exhibit space is sold out, and the agenda has been expanded to three speaking tracks to accommodate increased attendance and interest.

The second annual North American MPS Conference focuses on the theme: “MPS: The Next Stage” and offers case studies, techniques, and ideas for moving to the next stage of MPS engagements. MPS decision makers, vendors and channel partners have signed up in record numbers to benefit from a rich agenda of relevant topics. Photizo Group, the leading research firm specializing in the printing and imaging industry, hosts the popular MPS Conference series, which have brought educational programs to MPS markets around the world.
Stellar Line Up of Industry Professionals

The North American MPS Conference promises a stellar line up of speakers, with multiple keynote presentations, as well as the definitive “State of the Industry” session delivered by Ed Crowley of Photizo Group. The keynote presenters are:

· Mark Boelhouwer, Vice President of Strategic Marketing, Ricoh Americas Corporation

· Dena Bernard, Director, Customer Satisfaction and Services, Oki Data Americas, Inc.

· Jason Evans, founding partner and CEO of PEQ Service + Solutions (which was acquired by Buchanan Technologies last year) and recently featured in MPSmentor

Chasing Customers, Outrunning Competitors

According to the Photizo Group, the most significant growth factors during the next two years will be evolution of distribution channels, continued focus on cost savings and aggressive vendor programs. The MPS Conference agenda provides a number of sessions geared to these information needs. The expanded three-track format offers targeted education covering a number of MPS areas. A diverse range of managed print services topics such as best practices in implementing managed print services, sales and marketing best practices, change management, transforming the dealership, and selling into the SMB market are all part of the industry’s only dedicated MPS conference.

“Expanding the agenda gives attendees ample opportunities to attend all the sessions they want. With much at stake for participants in this multi-billion dollar industry, it’s important to adjust and accommodate their educational needs and interests,” said Photizo Group CEO Ed Crowley. Photizo Group estimates that the MPS market is currently worth over $25 billion globally and projects it will be a $60 billion market by 2013. “Channel professionals and vendors are also coming on board in record numbers. With the nearly sold out exhibit area, attendees are sure to find solutions and advice to support their MPS goals. The across-the-board enthusiasm and support signal strong interest in the red-hot managed print services market, and the conference is designed to provide the information necessary for success.”

Best Practices, Best Networking

The conference features case studies, panels, exhibitions and interactive sessions that highlight successful approaches and valuable takeaways from actual MPS engagements. Some of the practical topics covered at the San Antonio Conference are managing RFPs and contracts, financial models for MPS providers, and sales and marketing best practices. Decision makers, vendors and channel partners can also network and share their insights and experiences with MPS engagements.

Registration details and other conference information are available at http://www.mpsconference.com.

# # #
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MPS Job Openings Drop: Copier Sales Rep Want Ads Increase - Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot?

A want ad, specifically for MPS Sales, prompted me to take a quick look at the graphs provided by Indeed, and located at the bottom of this blog.

Stark contrast between "MPS Sales" and "Copier Sales" demand - as MPS Sales openings apparently tumble, the need for Copier Sales people has sky rocketed.

This is certainly not a scientific study but the graphs contribute fodder for discussion.

MPS Sales jobs listed here.

managed Print services sales Job Trends

Managed Print services sales jobs

copier sales Job Trends

copier sales jobs

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Bruce Dahlgren Defines Managed Print Services

"Bringing order to chaos.

There's a huge infrastructure that's built up inside the office environment composed of printers, copiers, scanners and fax machines. Firms have no real single view as to its cost and how much [physically] of it there is."


The article/advertisement is here.


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As of Today, Edgeline is Gone: The beginning of the End Started in Vancouver

Just under three years ago, Edgeline hit the market.

At the time, all the hoopla and programs felt like a plan, a strategy - not simply wishful thinking.

Over a year ago, January 27, 2009, I reported the shuttering of the Edgeline group in Vancouver.

I knew then.

For the last 12-15 months I have been counseling clients on this development and making plans.

Last month, I installed 15 Edgelines.

Between now and the end of May, I have five for sure and another 17 possible.

HP should discontinue product (and not tell anyone) more often.

Parts and supplies will be support for five years.

From InfoTrends InfoBlog, Robert Palmer writes:

"These types of MFPs are typically leased under a click-based service contract, and HP’s reseller channel is simply not equipped to support that type of sales/service motion..."

"...HP admitted as much when the Edgeline-based MFPs were announced, noting that the products would primarily be sold through direct engagements with large corporate accounts. The CM8050 and CM8060 served an important role for HP in its initial forray into Managed Print Services (MPS)..."

"...In short, HP does not have an adequate channel to move the volumes needed to support the Edgeline platform long term..."

That last sentence pretty much summed it up.

It was fun while it lasted, and the Edgeline technology will live on.

Today, it can be said, that HP is out of the copier business.

How much longer before HP evacuates the printing, hardware business all together?

See More Here.

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