What is it
Could we please have applications that will allow documents and screenshots to be printed from phones?
Being able to print single and multiple SMS text messages from phones is needed too, along with the ability add date/time stamps and other transmission data associated with each message.
Why is it needed
Many people do not need a computer very often. Mobile devices are evolving quickly and are now able to deliver almost everything — email, ecommerce and document management. But not printing.
Unlike conventional computers, we are not able to make a permanent record directly from mobile devices. Or print emails, attachments and other documents. Even SMS messages can have value — as receipts, permissions and records of formal interactions.
Retail and B2B sales will bring in revenue. Another source of revenue can be from manufacturers of printers, who would bundle mobile-printing applications in with their printer products. Printer manufacturers generally sell their hardware at a loss, with revenue earned on the sale of ink. The more that people use their printers, the more money the printer manufacturer earns.
The number of mobile devices vastly exceeds the number of computers. By distributing applications that allow printing from mobile devices, printer manufacturers would greatly expand their market size, especially for portable and lower-end printers.
Where is the money
A printing service could be offered on a per-use or subscription basis. Mobile device users could forward important documents to the printer service, which would print documents and bill against senders’ cellular accounts. This service could be offered by phone stores, Internet cafes and even by cellular carriers themselves.
Perhaps print functions (or portions thereof) could be pre-loaded onto SIM cards, memory cards and USB jump drives to speed distribution.
Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) is the next generation IP protocol. It will enable everyday appliances to have their own IP addresses — including printers. Ipv6 will make it easier for users of mobile devices to send documents and transaction records to printers and to control how those items are printed.
A premium feature could be print-to-archive or print-to-file for mobile devices, largely utilizing cloud storage. Cell phones have limited capabilities to store (and no capability to archive) SMS messages. This forces cell phone users to delete SMS messages and SMS exchanges that may be needed later.
