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NetSilicon has begun commercial shipments of its NetStream network printer controller to Hitachi Printing Solutions.
NetStream uses a NetSilicon NET+ARM processor and its NET+Works networking development suite to integrate high-performance industry-leading network printing features, and high-resolution print quality into a low-cost single processor architecture.
Hitachi Printing Solutions is using a custom version of the NetStream controller in its desktop colour laser printers.
"NetStream has allowed Hitachi Printing Solutions to attack the desktop colour printer market with a very robust solution at a very competitive price", said Takashi Onoda, general manager of System Design Department, Hitachi Printing Solutions.
The NetStream controller is designed to drive the latest colour laser printer engines at speeds up to 10 pages per minute.
It includes Ethernet, 1284, and usb interfaces and supports 1200 dots per inch resolution.
NetStream's strong networking capabilities build upon NetSilicon's NET+Works software and includes all the primary network printing protocols such as TCP/IP, Novell and AppleTalk.
NetStream also includes new printing services, such as the Internet Printing Protocol.
There is an embedded web server for web based management, SNMP, and even an e-mail client to notify users and administrators of the printer's status.
These features combined with NetStream's low cost, enable printer manufacturers like Hitachi Printing Solutions to offer a business-class printer at a soho price.
"We are excited that Hitachi Printing Solutions, a leading printer manufacturer, is our first customer for this product, and has adopted the NetSilicon solution", said Bruce Berger, General Manager, NetSilicon.
"The NetStream printer controller platform shows the power of NetSilicon's processor and software architectures.
By providing a combination of speed, network features, and low cost, NetStream is ideally positioned to bring colour printing to the office desktop".
According to industry analyst Alyson Frasco, Director of IDC's Worldwide Hardcopy Peripheral Trackers and Forecasts, the US market for colour page printers is experiencing solid growth, with a majority of that growth coming from small to mid-sized business sectors.
Additionally, Frasco states that the installed base is expected to grow 45% within the next three years.
Although NetStream is NetSilicon's first printer controller, the company is already in development of its next generation solution.
In the near future, NetSilicon will introduce an enhanced platform incorporating a new ARM9-based SoC.
This new architecture will provide customers significant performance gains at a lower systems cost.
According to Berger, "We are enthusiastic about the opportunities of the growing colour laser printer market for our soc business".
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