Before reading about cloud printing, it is essential to know what exactly cloud computing is. Cloud computing technology allows its users to work independently on computing resources that are available or accessible from a specific location or from a specific device. Computing resource from a centralized location provides access to remote computers in different locations through Internet connectivity. Service providers such as Google, Apple, and Microsoft use centralized resources to store their users’ data that can be accessed from any device with an Internet connection. Therefore, cloud computing helps users to access their data from anywhere and at any time.
Cloud printing follows the same concept and allows you to print via the web. If a computer or any device has Internet access, you can send print jobs to a printer, regardless of the printer’s location. The advantage of cloud printing is that it eliminates the need to install print drivers or check device compatibility with the printer. The cloud already has the required drivers installed for all the printers that are linked to the cloud. Printers that are cloud-enabled can connect directly to the Internet without having any specific configuration from a personal computer.
To enable cloud printing, a user needs to register the printers to take advantage of this service which allows the servers located at the end of the service provider to send the print job directly to the printers. It is also possible to make classic printers cloud-ready by connecting them to a computer with Internet access where a software connector has already been installed. It is this software connector that helps the printer connect to the cloud. Cloud providers and cloud-enabled printer manufacturers work in the printing industry.
Cloud printing providers maintain multiple servers or resources to route the print request from the user end to the print enabled printers. Requests can be redirected to the printer immediately by the service provider or based on user preference. ‘Google Cloud Print’, ‘HP Mag Cloud’ and ‘eprint’, Xerox ‘PrintMe’, DTP systems, etc. are some of the major players in the field of cloud print service providers.
Cloud printing is becoming more and more user friendly with service providers offering options like uploading or emailing content to an email ID (provided by ‘PrintMe’) where users can enter ‘PrintMe’ to print the content sent by email. Another facility provided by ‘Google Print’ is a printing service via Chrome extension via Google account for both classic printers and cloud-enabled printers.
Users have the advantage of printing without relying on any data storage devices or worrying about available printer drivers and operating system compatibility or even turning on their personal computers. It is also possible for users to obtain printable versions of the required content, and merchants can market their content without relying on any printing infrastructure installed on their site. Respect for the environment and the drastic reduction in the waste of printing paper is another advantage of printing in the cloud.