Lantronix xPrintServer – Cloud Print Edition Now Supports Printing from Kindle Fire Tablets

Lantronix, a provider of smart IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity solutions and mobile-printing solutions, reports that its new xPrintServer – Cloud Print Edition mobile-printing device supports printing from the Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HDX tablets from Amazon. Without having to download any software or update their device, Kindle Fire tablet, users can now use an xPrintServer to print photos, email attachments (including documents, spreadsheets, images, photos, PDFs, and more), and any Web page via their Chrome browser.  The xPrintServer – Cloud Print Edition is the first and only print server certified by Google to support cloud-print technology.

Last fall, Amazon introduced the new Kindle Fire HD and the Kindle Fire HDX. According to a 2013 report by Forrester Research, the Kindle Fire was the number-two best-selling tablet after Apple’s iPad.   The Kindle Fire itself is a mini tablet and computer version of Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader, running on a custom version of Google’s Android operating system called Fire OS. The device includes access to the Amazon Appstore, streaming movies and TV shows, and Kindle’s e-books. According to app analytics company Localytics, the Kindle Fire in the U.S. constitutes a 33 percent share of the Android tablet market.

Google Cloud Print is a technology that connects printers to the web. With Google Cloud Print, users can make their home and work printers available to anyone they choose. Google Cloud Print works on smartphones, tablets, Chromebooks, PCs, and any other web-connected devices.  When printing through Google Cloud Print, files are securely sent over the web to any designated printer, be it in the same location as the user or on another continent.

Roughly the size of a smartphone, the new xPrintServer – Cloud Print Edition is a hardware solution for cloud printing that requires no additional software downloads or print-driver installations, and there’s automatic printer discovery and configuration. To install it, users open the box, plug the xPrintServer into their network, and it automatically links all user IDs to all printers on the network, enabling cloud printing in minutes.

The xPrintServer – Cloud Print Edition supports Android devices (smartphones, tablets), and devices (including tablets, smartphones, PCs, and laptops) running Google’s Chrome browser.  Market research firm IHS iSuppli recently reported that in 2013, cumulative shipments of Android smartphones exceeded one billion units worldwide, and is estimated to approach three billion cumulative units by 2016.  Google’s Chrome browser is one of the most popular browsers in the world, with more than 310 million active users globally in 2013, according to Google.

The xPrintServer product also supports users of Google Apps – a cloud-based productivity suite from Google that helps businesses connect and get work done from anywhere on any device.  Current market estimates expect the number of businesses using Google Apps, Google Docs, and Chromebooks to exceed 10 million in 2014.

“Today, Amazon is positioning the Kindle Fire HDX as an up and coming solution for enterprise users – with features such as ease of integration with corporate Exchange servers via ActiveSync, support for advance security features, a native VPN client, and more,” commented Kurt Busch, president and CEO of Lantronix.  “We believe easy mobile printing is a key missing ingredient for enterprise adoption, and are thrilled that our innovative xPrintServer provides a printing solution for the Kindle Fire.”

Key xPrintServer features:

• Print to existing printers – no need to buy new printers.
• Easy to use / automatic discovery and setup of printers.
• Enables printing from smartphones, tablets, Chromebooks, laptops or PCs.
• Supports thousands of top-brand USB, network, and wireless printers.
• Administrative and security settings can be accessed and managed via a Web interface.
• Google Cloud Print-ready.

The new xPrintServer – Cloud Print Edition retails for $149.95 MSRP and is currently available in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe at Lantronix.com, Amazon.com, and other select e-tailers, as well as through the company’s global distribution network.