*NEWS*SHARP NEW COLOR MFP/COPIER LINE

[Anonymous]

Sharp Unveils New Color Multifunction Copier Line
MX Series Color MFP Line Features Outstanding Image Quality
January 
2006 Sharp Document Solutions Company of America announces the first
four of eight new models in a color MFP (multifunctional peripheral)
series that represents a significant change for the copier industry:
rather than developing discrete MFP engines for various line segments,
Sharp has based all models in the series on a scalable engine design,
giving Sharp customers access to eight new color models in less than
six months. The MX Series products will range in speed from 23
pages-per-minute (PPM) to 70 PPM.
Today, Sharp introduces the line’s
first four MFPs, which range in speed from 23 to 45 PPM (models
MX-2300N, MX-2700N, MX-3501N and MX-4501N) and offer cost-effective
color as well as advanced functionality, available previously on
Sharp’s monochrome models. The MX Series models will support Sharp’s
Open Systems Architecture, for seamless integration with network
applications, as well as Sharp’s award-winning* security suite. All
models come with 24-hour support from My Sharp, a dedicated online
customer training Web site.
Powerful and Reliable MFPs
Designed
for general office use, the new MX-3501N and MX-4501 make speedy work
of any project with PPM speeds of 35 and 45 respectively. The MX-3501N
prints and copies both color and black and white jobs at 35 PPM while
the faster MX-4501N prints and copies black and white jobs at 45 PPM
and 35 PPM for color. Both mid-sized MFPs complete jobs quickly with
standard features like Sharp’s Color Scan2(TM) technology that
minimizes paper handling while maximizing performance and providing
faster scan speeds. To keep print and copy jobs processing efficiently,
these networked MFPs have the highest on-line paper capacity in their
class – up to 5,600 sheets.
All models in the MX Series line utilize
Sharp’s multitasking controller technology with dual job queuing to
process copy, print and scan jobs more efficiently.
The MX Series
MFPs also enables users to print color or black and white files
directly from a USB memory device, such as a thumb drive. For added
convenience, customers can scan a document on the MFP and save it to a
USB memory device in popular formats such as TIFF, JPEG, PDF and
encrypted PDF . Additional USB-based features include device
installation cloning and firmware updates through USB memory device.
Ideal for larger machine deployments, device cloning allows technicians
to apply the same set-up information to every machine so users have an
identical experience on all of the MX MFPs they use. The software
embedded into the MFPs hardware, also referred to as the firmware, can
be updated using a USB memory device, eliminating the need for
technicians to carry laptops for firmware upgrades. Only authorized
technicians can upgrade the machines’ firmware.
Full Featured to Meet Mid-Sized Business Needs
The
new entry-level document systems for small to mid-sized workgroups
provide exceptional performance, with copy and print speeds in both
color and black and white of up to 23 PPM on the MX-2300N and up to 27
PPM on the MX-2700N. These compact and flexible models offer many
innovative features, not found typically on MFPs in this category, such
as advanced user account management, inbound fax routing to e-mail,
secure print and scan-to-SMB.
Network Security
Since MFPs have
become an integral part of the networked office , IT administrators are
demanding more and more advanced security features. Sharp offers
several layers of network and data security to deploy digital copying,
printing, scanning and faxing safely in any business or government
environment. The industry-leading security for these network-attached
MFPs can be enhanced through data security kits, which encrypt document
data using 128-bit encryption and erase the memory of a document on the
hard drive by overwriting encrypted data up to seven times.
For
added security, the MX Series MFPs all have accounting and management
tools to ensure that only authorized users can access the machines. The
MX-4501N and MX-3501N can be programmed with up to 1,000 user accounts
while the MX-2700N and MX-2300N offer 200 user accounts. These user
accounts can be customized to better manage machine usage and related
costs by setting limits on different features, such as color copying.
The MX series can also be configured to require users to log into a
corporate network, using LDAP protocols, via a virtual QWERTY keyboard
on the MFP’s large LCD screen or external USB keyboard before they can
copy, scan, fax or e-mail.
Superior Image Quality and Finishing Options
For
superb reproduction quality, Sharp developed micro-fine toner
technology and advanced image stabilization for enhanced image
definition that delivers outstanding output on every page. The MX
Series also monitors ambient conditions, such as humidity and
temperature, during the imaging process to ensure optimal image quality
and color balance.
To collate, sort, staple and otherwise finish
outputted jobs for a professional look and feel, the new MFPs offer a
choice of finishing selections, including a compact internal finisher
or a floor-standing saddle-stitch finisher. All four models have
three-position stapling and three-hole punching options.
Custom Application Integration with Sharp Open Systems Architecture
Sharp
Open Systems Architecture (Sharp OSA) is a development platform that
opens the door to a broad array of value-added functionality and
flexibility, all designed to deliver the power of customization to the
customer. Sharp OSA leverages the inherent interoperability of Web
services design to enable Sharp, its dealer network and ISV partners to
better meet customer needs.
Sharp OSA streamlines document workflow
and enhances productivity by making the MFP a gateway for
document-based business communications, enabling customers to automate
tasks and save time. For example, businesses will be able to scan an
invoice on the MFP and integrate that invoice into an accounting
software package instantly to process payments without user
intervention at the desktop. Additionally, Sharp OSA-enabled MFPs allow
companies to control access and track usage more effectively by
offering tighter integration capabilities for areas such as network
security and accounting.
Sharp is also partnering with developers to
integrate all types of applications with Sharp MFPs. For faster
deployment, Sharp OSA uses industry-standard protocols such as XML and
SOAP, which allow the MFP to communicate with business-critical
programs such as document management systems and workflow software, as
well as perform expanded tasks on the network.
Dedicated My Sharp Support
The
MX Series models come with My Sharp support that is customized by
Sharp’s independent dealers to match the features of customers’ MX
Series MFP. Customers visit their personalized My Sharp page to see
more than 50 Web demonstrations that walk the user through typical and
not-so-typical product usage and service questions. For example, users
can use My Sharp to learn how to load toner or program complicated copy
jobs. My Sharp also provides online access to user manuals and supply
information so customers can get the information they need anytime with
a few simple keystrokes.
Availability
The new MX-4501N, MX-3501N,
MX-2700N and MX-2300N advanced color document systems will be available
this month from authorized Sharp dealers. For more information about
the complete line of Sharp document solution products, contact Sharp
Document Solutions Company of America, Sharp Plaza, Mahwah, N.J. 07430,
or call 800-BE-SHARP. For online product information, visit Sharp’s Web
site at sharpusa.com or sharpusa.com/documents.
Sharp Electronics
Corporation is the Mahwah, N.J.-based marketing and sales subsidiary of
Japan’s Sharp Corporation, a worldwide developer of the core
technologies that are integral to shaping the next generation of home
entertainment products, appliances, networked, multifunctional office
solutions, solar energy and mobile communication and information tools.
Leading brands include AQUOS(R) Liquid Crystal Televisions, 1-Bit(TM)
digital audio products, SharpVision(R) projection products, Carousel(R)
microwaves, IMAGER(TM) digital multifunctional systems, and
Notevision(R) multimedia projectors. Sharp Electronics Corporation
employs approximately 2,000 people throughout the U.S. supporting more
than 50 product lines.

[Author]

February 1, 2006 at 11:08 AM