Xerox to Support Printing and Scanning in Upcoming Microsoft Windows Release
Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) is developing advanced scanning and printing capabilities for its office multifunction systems that will support Metro, the code-name for a new set of document technologies that Microsoft Corporation is building into the next generation of its Windows platform, code-named Longhorn. Metro will further enable customers to effortlessly manage documents throughout the document lifecycle, from creation and printing to scanning and archiving. ``By combining Xerox expertise in smarter document management with the new XML-based capabilities of 'Metro,' we will help clients use documents as tools to drive productivity and business growth,'' said Tim Williams, President, Xerox Office Group in an interview to a Newspaper. ``We know that virtually all fundamental business processes involve documents. It makes sense for Xerox to further develop features that support 'Metro' to help customers more effectively create, print, share and archive documents.''
At the Microsoft WinHEC conference, a gathering of hardware engineers, designers and product planners, Microsoft showcased scanning and printing using Metro and Xerox WorkCentre Pro advanced multifunction devices. Metro, planned for release with the Longhorn version of Windows in the second half of 2006, is a new document format, spool file, and page description language. Metro uses open standards such as XML, XAML and ZIP so that it can be used with a wide range of devices and applications.
Xerox's support for Metro is bolstered by the use of Xerox Mixed Raster Content technology, which significantly reduces the file size of scanned documents without compromising image quality - resulting in faster processing speeds, reduced network bandwidth demands and decreased file storage space requirements. Xerox devices will also support printing of Metro, which enables value-added processing in the print path.
Xerox Corporation's integration with Metro is a result of significant R and D investments including the company's partner, Fuji Xerox. Fuji Xerox, a 25/75 joint venture with Xerox and Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd., is the hub of Xerox operations in Japan and the markets in the Pacific Rim.
