Travelling and printing - in business class!
By Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 09 July 2010 18:46
Despite the lingering effects of the global financial crisis and fears of a double dip recession, it should come as no surprise to discover Qantas reporting an upswing in business class travel just as HP introduces business class printers - with everyone clearly keen to get down to business!
Despite increased competition in the “low-fare” aviation market, and the reported lowering of some yields, Qantas still reports a 7.6% increase in passengers to May 2010 and an increase in business class travel, with the report noting that “The premium market, including the business travel market, continues to improve, demonstrating the positive effect of the portfolio strategy."
Last week, I had the opportunity to experience Qantas Business Class travel thanks to a “space available” business class upgrade on a trip to Hong Kong, flying a Boeing 747-400, which itself was thanks to an economy class ticket paid for by Hewlett Packard (HP) to attend a brand new, world-first regional product launch.
HP introduced its new range of “emailable” printers which blend an actual Linux-powered computer with a mainstream inkjet or laser printer, taking the printer in a whole new direction, arguably upgrading the printer to a “business class” level of performance – yet not just for businesses but everyday consumers, too.
HP’s new printers allow users to email their printers from wherever they are in the world and have that information print out on their new “emailable” printers, cutting the USB cord, and dispensing with the need to worry about drivers, operating systems or fiddly set-ups.
Each printer comes with a unique email address, complete with several strong layers of protection from spam, and allow smartphone, iPhone, iPad and other digital device users to print – even if there isn’t a computer connected to the printer in question, as all that is needed is an Internet connection for the printer.
In addition, these printers come with iPhone-style screens that can display and run a range of apps, bringing apps to an unexpected destination: right on printers themselves.
All kinds of apps are already available, with an SDK (software development kit) ready for developers to create as many more as they can and as the market demands as effectively every new printer worth US $99 or more from HP comes with this emailable printing and app capability, something that should see a massive installed base of millions of emailable and app enabled HP printers in relatively short order.
Existing apps can print out blank to-do lists, shopping list reminders and other forms, Sudoku, crosswords and other puzzles, custom news from a global and local range of news providers, kids content such as colouring-in, join-the-dots and more from major movie app tie-ins to a plethora of other apps available and in development, including ones we haven’t yet even imagined.
This transforms HP’s new printers into independent information delivery systems and a new distribution channel that you can personalise in virtually any way you want, while still being able to print from your computer in the regular manner over USB.
One example of how the printer could be used by airlines is in the airline lounges, where customers could print to HP printers simply by emailing the visibly listed email address.
Customers could print out their own boarding passes or business documents without the fear of malware transmission over USB sticks or fiddling with cables and drivers, while airlines and different companies such as hotels, document handling companies, libraries and others have a brand new and much simpler printing system in place for customers, and one that should require minimal IT support.
It’s arguably one of the biggest breakthroughs in printing since the printer went all-in-one and multi-function, putting a computer into the (US $99 and above) printer and turning it into a standalone device that still connects to your home computer via USB, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth in the usual manner, while being able to deliver information without the need for a computer - alongside letting you print from devices like the iPad, iPhone, Android, and other smartphones that don’t as yet have any native wired or wireless printing capability.
What you’ve just read explains why I went to Hong Kong, but it was thanks to that “space available” upgrade to Business Class that I was able to experience the many desirable benefits that business class delivers.
These are quite numerous, from the provision of noise cancelling headsets that add to the calmness and stress-free, clear thinking and comfortable environment that business class delivers. There’s the upgraded level of nourishment, beverages and refreshments to make the flight that much more relaxing.
There’s the added freedom to move around and enjoy an always available mini-bar, there’s the larger entertainment screens and superior sound and the superb lie-flat seats that are ultra-customisable to your preferred seating or lying down position. Even the pockets to store your shoes and the amenity bag with special skin protection and skin refreshing products is a cut above.
There's also access to the airline lounge pre-flight and importantly, the ability to use an “express” lane to get through customs faster when leaving the country as happened for me in Australia, something I hadn’t previously experienced when travelling this class on any airline.
Continued on page two, please read on.
