REDMOND, Wash., May 22, 1997 — Microsoft Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. today announced that their submission of a Simple Web Printing (SWP) proposal was well received by the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) subgroup of Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)/Printer Working Group. The proposal will allow a user to submit, control and monitor print jobs while connected to the Internet or corporate intranets via HTTP. This represents the initial step toward realizing the IPP’s vision of standardized, secure Internet printing.
This technology can be used in a number of ways. For example, a small business could use it as an easy way to transfer data to a commercial print shop. The small business could set up an account with a commercial printer with equipment such as a color laser printer or a wide-format printer. The small business would then use links on the commercial printer’s Web site to install appropriate print drivers for the type of printing it needs. When the business needed a document printed using the commercial printer’s equipment, it could simply choose File/Print and select the appropriate printer. The document would be sent to the commercial printer’s server and printed out in the necessary format.
To meet both end user and industry Internet printing needs, Microsoft and HP’s proposal extends existing Internet standards in an evolutionary way:
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Maintains existing HTTP protocols
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Displays the user interface for printing in HTML
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Ensures security while printing over the Internet
The SWP proposal can be viewed at http://www.microsoft.com/ . The proposal has already gained support from Adobe Systems Inc., IBM Corp., Lexmark International Group Inc. and Xerox Corp.
“The Web is an exhilarating kaleidoscope of information and opportunity,” said Carolyn Ticknor, vice president, HP LaserJet solutions group. “Our customers expect market leaders like Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft to develop the technology solutions that lead them into the 21st century.”
“Together with HP, we are extending printing to the Internet in a way that allows users to work with their existing applications, and use the operations they are familiar with today for local printing,” said Moshe Dunie, vice president, Windows operating systems at Microsoft. “Our presentation of this proposal to the IETF underscores Microsoft’s commitment to standards in our development process, both in using existing standards and extending and enhancing them where appropriate.”
About HP
HP is the official information-technology hardware and maintenance supplier to the 1998 World Cup soccer tournament.
Hewlett-Packard Co. is a leading global provider of computing, Internet and intranet solutions, services, communications products and measurement solutions, all of which are recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 114,600 employees and had revenue of $38.4 billion in its 1996 fiscal year.
Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at (http://www.hp.com/) .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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