OKI Printing Solutions and Anoto Partnership Expands as Demand Grows for Digital Pen and Paper Technology Solutions
29/04/2009
London, 17th Feburary 2009 OKI Printing Solutions is sole global provider of Anoto Qualified Printers
In order to make Digital Pen and Paper technology available to SMBs, education and healthcare providers, as well as the individual, OKI Printing Solutions is extending its relationship with the pioneering leader of the technology, Anoto. OKI, an Anoto Qualified Printer partner for the last three years, has become a pan EMEA distribution partner selling its printers bundled with Anoto penPresenter and Anoto penDocuments and selling the products individually to those who already have an Anoto qualified OKI printer across EMEA.
Anoto penPresenter is a meeting room tool that enables PowerPoint to function with Digital Pen and Paper technology, allowing users to annotate presentations and capture a 100% accurate record of what occurred at a meeting.
Anoto penDocuments allows users to capture handwritten information from a variety of documents including word documents and spreadsheets as a PDF using a digital pen and transfer this information to other devices such as a PC.
Key to this process is the patented pattern of dots which must be printed onto each paper document. The Anoto dot pattern consists of numerous black dots that can be read by the digital pen, but are almost invisible to the naked eye. The pen reads the pattern and registers what and where the user writes. Retained in the pen's memory as a series of coordinates, this information can then be transferred to a PC using either Bluetooth® or by connecting the pen to a USB port on a PC, using a docking unit.
As Ebba Åsly Fåhraeus, VP sales and marketing for Anoto explains, "The intelligence behind the technology is in the precise and accurate printing of the pattern on the paper. As a result our relationship with OKI Printing Solutions has historically been a very important one. They are the only Anoto Qualified Printer partner globally and by extending our relationship with them to make them a distribution partner for both Anoto penPresenter and Anoto penDocuments we are able to make the products available to a much wider market."
Evolving Processes
Initially, Anoto used a copied pattern which could be replicated in high print volumes. As a result enterprises would often outsource bulk printing of the paper to Anoto certified print houses. As the user requirements evolved, the need for a unique pattern on every page developed. The unique pattern allows the digital pen to identify the type of document it is working on, and the specific pages within that document. This created an increased need for on-demand printing and small volume print runs, and the requirement arose for in-house solutions that were capable of accurately printing the detailed patterns.
"It was at this point that Anoto turned to OKI Printing Solutions," add Ebba, "Through our rigorous qualification process we were able to ensure that the quality of the printed paper would not be compromised even if the print run was 10,000 documents."
As a distribution partner OKI will offer its range of printers as a bundled solution with Anoto penPresenter and Anoto penDocuments as well as selling them individually.
Ebba adds, "Demand for these solutions is growing outside of the large enterprises where they have traditionally been used. As OKI has a worldwide distribution channel they were an ideal partner to help Anoto capitalise on this demand and extend the reach of the products into the wider market."
Reaching the Wider Market
Traditional markets where Anoto's products have already had success include large-scale healthcare organizations, banking and service maintenance. With the launch of these entry level solutions, Anoto will be able to target many market sectors and the individuals within them.
Steve Hone, international sales and business development manager for OKI Printing Solutions, Europe adds, "OKI is able to utilize its distribution channel to provide Anoto's products in conjunction with its range of qualified printers. Anoto's products will add further value to our customers by offering solutions that link to our printer products, enabling us to offer additional printing solutions. In turn, OKI can help to raise the profile of Anoto's Digital Pen and Paper technology throughout EMEA."
Ebba concludes, "Our relationship with OKI Printing Solutions is very productive, they are exactly the kind of partner we want. As Anoto penPresenter and Anoto penDocuments demand an integrated printer solution when you have that in place you are able to use the pen more effectively."
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About Anoto
Anoto Group is the company behind and world leading in the unique technology for digital pen and paper, which enables fast and reliable transmission of handwritten text into a digital format. Anoto operates through a global partner network that focuses on user-friendly forms solutions for efficient capture, transmission and storage of data within different business segments, e.g. healthcare, bank and finance, transport and logistics and education. The Anoto Group has around 110 employees, offices in Lund (head office), Boston and Tokyo. The Anoto share is listed on NASDAQ OMX Nordic small cap list under the ticker ANOT. For more information: www.anoto.com
About OKI Printing Solutions
OKI Printing Solutions (www.okiprintingsolutions.com) specializes in designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing business printing solutions which empower organizations to communicate more effectively. As a market leader in the global color printer market, OKI Printing Solutions has representation in 120 countries worldwide offering innovative and leading edge products and services. Its annual turnover for FY07 is 187.9 billion yen and sales are divided between 54% EMEA, 22% Americas, 18% Asia and Oceania and 6% Others. OKI Printing Solutions is the brand name of OKI Data Corporation, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Oki Electric Industry Co. Ltd., established in 1881 and Japan's first telecommunications manufacturer.
