ADVERTISEMENT Feature Aspasia Cloud Informational Series – No.19 Cloud printing – the last bastion crumbles


READERS OF OUR previous articles will know that Aspasia Cloud can, if agents wish to let it do so, consign the complexity, high cost and inflexibility of desktop computing to the dustbin. Cloud computing can leave them free to enjoy new and progressive opportunities to make their businesses significantly more efficient and profitable and to promote longevity. Moreover, they can now conduct their affairs using a plethora of new devices connected to the Internet previously denied to them due to the restrictions of conventional software and hardware solutions in our industry. But there was always one limitation; if an agent wanted to print anything they still needed to use a computer which was attached to a printer and which contained a printer driver within its operating system with all the complications of compatibility. In effect we had a 100 per cent web- or cloud-based solution until we wanted to print anything when we then had to resort to steam power again – until now. With Aspasia Cloud, you can print from your computer as you have always been able to do but now also from any tablet or other computing device or a smartphone running Android or Apple’s iOS such as an iPhone. Even more attractive is that the printer doesn’t need to be in the same room or building or even country as the device from which the printing request is made – it will print from any Internet aware printer in the world.


HP and GooGle innovation HP already offers a range of Internet connected


printers called ePrinters which can be used as conventional computer or network attached printers or in this new and innovative fashion – other manufacturers will surely follow. As part of the individual printer setup it will connect to a local WiFi network and then register with an HP website from where it will receive a unique email address. From then on all you need to do is to send the printer an email, with or without an attachment, and both will suddenly appear in hard copy at the printer wherever in the world it may be – very impressive to see working. Google, as you might expect, have taken this process a stage further and offer a web service called Google Cloud Print (GCP) which sits


branch for instance and they could use your printer as required. This could really facilitate increased flexibility in terms of service provided and the opportunities are boundless. We ourselves have been using Aspasia Cloud


on a Samsung Chromebook with an HP ePrinter registered as a Google Cloud Print device and we believe it has the potential to completely revolutionise IT within residential agency by removing the entire requirement for IT support and most of the cost of the hardware and associated infrastructure. The Chromebook does not have any operating system which means it starts in seconds, automatically updates itself if necessary without the user even knowing, cannot have a virus, has no printer driver and requires absolutely no IT support whatsoever.


between the printer and the originating device and which not only sends the document but communicates with the printer and returns other information to the user such as the job status and so on. Your printers are recorded and stored within your Google Apps account and instead of sending an email directly to the printer (GCP does this for you) you simply choose a ‘print’ icon within your application as you do within any regular desktop application. Just like other web services such as email, diaries, contacts, maps, etc, Google provides developers like us with a programming interface which enables us to integrate such facilities within our software application. This is more evidence of the logic behind our integration of Aspasia Cloud with Google Apps.


So how does this benefit agents apart from


the earlier stated facility to print from a multitude of different Internet connected devices such as tablets and smartphones? First there is the rather obvious opportunity to centralise printing activity as a means of facilitating economies of scale, save on manpower and to further reduce IT complexity and cost. But even if this facility is not desired there are other big advantages such as the fact that Google treats registered printers under Google Cloud Print in the same fashion as it does Google Docs, Sites or other user created objects. This means that you could automatically share your own printer with anyone else at another


Aspasia Cloud is the first fully integrated cloud technology software solution for agents involved with residential sales, lettings and property management. This informational series has been designed to explain how the software differs from other solutions and what that means for agents who use it.


For further information and to read previous articles in the series, please go to www.aspasia.net.


PROPERTYdrum NOVEMBER 2011 27


siGnificant savinGs The ePrinter is an equally simple device to


operate once the initial set-up has taken place and also has no ongoing IT support requirements other than the routine replacement of toner cartridges. Both devices obviously need a branch wireless Internet connection just as most of us have at home. With a Chromebook costing less than £300 excluding VAT and a colour laser ePrinter costing a similar sum there is considerable scope for savings associated with branch IT requirements in this kind of arrangement. It is undoubtedly true that we are all using


printed documents less and less in today’s electronic age and Aspasia Cloud is designed to use no printed output whatsoever if that is what you want to do. Nevertheless, many agents have difficulty coming to terms with doing without printed details sheets or, perhaps, tenancy agreements, etc. Cloud printing gives us the opportunity to make significant savings in the complexity and cost of printing systems we have all became accustomed to. Even if for some the commercial reasons are not yet totally persuasive or convincing we are all encouraged these days to do our bit to preserve our environment and in this context cloud printing has an opportunity to play its part. The fact that it can considerably contribute to the bottom line surely is a bonus.


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