SHARP Middle East has responded to the rise of mobile devices in the workplace by introducing the Sharpdesk Mobile to the region - an application allowing printing and scanning of documents from a smartphone or tablet to a Sharp Multi-Function Printer (MFP). An exponential increase in Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) culture in businesses across the Middle East has been recorded, with a recent Aberdeen Group report* finding that 69 percent of respondents in its EMEA region survey allowed BYOD in their business in some degree or another, with 51 percent saying the devices increased productivity. The use of smartphones and tablet devices to boost productivity has also created a demand for connectivity to resources such as printers in the office. Sharp has launched its Sharpdesk Mobile app to foster this connectivity, providing seamless linking between an office's Sharp MFP and employees' mobile devices. “More businesses are allowing employees to use mobile devices in the workplace - either smartphones or tablets. This has created challenges concerning integrating these devices into existing IT infrastructures, especially concerning printing, which Sharp has addressed by launching Sharpdesk Mobile," said Gautam Chakrabarty, Deputy General Manager, Marketing, Sharp Middle East. “Now available for iOS equipped mobile units and with Android capability on the way, Sharpdesk Mobile enables employees to send documents for printing or receive scans ready for emailing to and from their own device without the need for installing complex drivers, all using Wi-Fi," he said. The Sharpdesk Mobile connects a supported Sharp MFP to the mobile device via a wireless LAN connection, allowing a range of ways to deliver and interact with documents without using a PC. Sharpdesk Mobile allows users to select, preview and print a document directly from their mobile device, with supported file types including PDF, JPEG and TIFF. Using scanned documents is also simplified with the application, with an MFP scanning hard-copy documents and saving them as PDF which can be sent directly to a mobile device, ready to be emailed or shared with other applications on the device. The connected smartphone or tablet profile can also be stored in the MFP setup as a ‘scan-to' location, making the device a regular or default option for scanned documents to go to, speeding up scanning operations. By omitting the need for using a PC as a middle step between a mobile device and the MFP printer, a user saves time and boosts efficiency by being able to communicate directly with the printer and scanner from their smartphone or tablet. The latest mobile devices including those from Apple, Samsung and HTC are supported by the app. The iOS devices are now available in the Middle East from the iTunes App Store, and the Android version available from Google Play. – SG
