News

UK travelers use airport kiosks to print documents

February 28, 2011

Travelers in the United Kingdom can now print directly from Internet kiosks or any Internet-enabled device, including smartphones, tablets and laptops, thanks to several airports' deployment of PrintSpectrum public printing solutions.

The kiosks, launched by PrinterOn Corporation and Spectrum Interactive, are in 30 airports, including locations in Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, Luon, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

"Partnering with Spectrum Interactive has made it possible to roll out our solution to these UK locations quickly and successfully," said Ken Noreikis, vice president of sales and marketing for PrinterOn Corporation. "Large deployments in key markets like this are necessary for increasing awareness and driving adoption of mobile printing worldwide."

How it works

According to a company press release, users can print boarding passes, e-mails, attachments and web content by forwarding an e-mail with attachment to a printer-specific email address or by uploading a document via URL to a printing portal.

A unique release code is displayed or emailed that the user enters on the printer's 22-inch touch screen interface to retrieve the print job. The user can pay by credit/debit cards or coin. The job is then released to print. When it's  completed the file is permanently deleted from the print server, ensuring total privacy.

"Public printing solutions have become an essential service for airport travelers, and thus equally important for our airport partners," said Daniel Gray, director of Travel Division for Spectrum. "This demand is exceptionally strong during periods of travel disruption, which recently has ranged from industrial strikes, to bad weather and even volcanic ash.

Gray said the airport installations are unmanned and remotely managed, with the printer, PC and touch screen built into a secure kiosk housing.

"We have successfully interfaced the PrinterOn product with our own kiosk management software, to enable full monitoring and management for the kiosk, payment for card and coin, and an easy public interface with touch screen," he said. "Our next developments include a stand-alone PrintPillar for areas with strong demand and a high density of handheld or laptop devices."