Document Imaging

EFI Launches Self-Serve Print Station for Mobile Devices

• By Andrew Barbour
• 08/02/12

EFI has launched its M500 Self-Serve Copy and Print Station, a self-serve system that allows students and faculty to print from mobile phones, iPads, USB drives, and cloud accounts such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and EFI PrintMe. By accepting credit cards, campus cards, and cash cards, the M500 also eliminates the need for coin-operated machines. The system is Payment Application Data Security Standard validated to assist in Payment Card Industry compliance audits.

According to a Harris Interactive poll, the number of college students using tablets has tripled over the last year, and 36 percent of those surveyed plan to buy a tablet in the next six months. Additionally, 63 percent believe that tablets will replace textbooks within the next five years. Even as students transition to mobile devices, though, printed documents and materials are still a requirement at most universities.

 "Students today are more digital, more mobile, and keep more documents in the cloud," said John Henze, vice president of Fiery marketing at EFI, in a prepared statement. "Antiquated devices like coin-operated copiers are not meeting their printing needs and create cash-management headaches for university staff."

The M500 features a large 10-inch color touchscreen with a simple user interface, provides secure encrypted communications, and works with any PostScript or multifunction printer. The station also supports 1D/2D barcode scanning for mobile devices and discount cards.