Mobile Printing For iOS® And Android™ Platforms

As it becomes simpler and less expensive for organizations of every size to deploy mobile sales and field service applications, the potential combination of mobile devices and operating systems has exploded. In the past, field service and delivery deployments involved the use of purpose-built, rugged and semi-rugged mobile computers, the majority of which ran on some iteration of the Windows ® operating system. Increasingly, however, these companies are turning to a wider mix of rugged and consumer-grade phones and tablets. Since many of these applications may not involve exposure to harsh environments, iOS ® and Android ™ -based smartphones have become the devices of choice because they are small, affordable, and end users are already familiar with the mobile interface.

The New Mobility Landscape

Until recently, mobile line-of-business applications were dominated by Windows- based laptops, tablets, and hand-held computers running WindowsMobile. With the advent of advanced and relatively low- cost mobile devices based on alternative operating systems, companies have been unshackled in terms of options for developing better field-based solutions. While this trend has expanded the range of new application opportunities for these businesses, the peripheral hardware component – specifically, the mobile printer – has become an afterthought.

In the Windows world, mobile printer integration was straightforward and relied on standard printer drivers built on a well- understood platform. With the introduction of iOS and Android devices (and frequently, a combination of two or more platforms in one environment), end users have lost the guarantee that their chosen devices will work with any given mobile printer.

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