Document management systems and services provider IKON Office Solutions is being acquired by Ricoh, a leading manufacturer of multifunction products, printers, fax machines and related supplies for about $1.6 billion in cash. IKON will be a subsidiary of Ricoh, once the acquisition process is completed.

The acquisition will bring together IKON's sales and services capabilities and Ricoh's engineering and manufacturing expertise.  

IKON integrates copiers, printers and MFP technologies from leading manufacturers and document management software and systems, to deliver tailored, high-value solutions implemented and supported by its global services organization. Ricoh on the other hand offers a wide range of digital, networked products, including MFPs, printers, fax machines, semiconductor related products and digital cameras.

If we said that a VoIP phone system will save businesses quite some money, one could most certainly ask: that's old hat, the world knows it.

Yet, the benefits of VoIP phone systems will need to be continously reinforced till a day comes, probably not too much in the distant future when most phone calls would happen over a IP network. Based on an article from VendorGuru, Stefania Viscusi writes about the 5 ways in which businesses can save money with a VoIP phone system.

To summarize, these are: reduced complexity with VoIP systems bringing in both voice and data communications; ability for employees to stay connected even while being mobile; savings on long distance calling, ability to reach contacts using a single number, possibility of using hosted PBX phone system, and savings in remuneration costs as employees are opting for telecommuting while foregoing higher compensation structure.

Read the full article here.

.... yes, you read that right, though it would be safe to assume that would be the last thing on any one's mind if you consider that we hear about surveillance cameras all around us. 

Well, it's not exactly that security cameras will become irrelevant, but their importance will certainly change. So says Steve Hunt of SecurityDreamer.com. The reason for this is also fairly obvious, come to think of it. Less than the cameras themselves, it is the software and all the accompanying hardware that add all the value in video surveillance purposes. As Steve says, "camera itself is now mere a data collection tool which feeds information into other systems."

Here's what he predicts on video surveillance. "video surveillance will draw lessening value from cameras themselves, and more from software and hardware complementing cameras. Technical issues such as increased bandwidth availability, innovative storage solutions and manufacturing breakthroughs that reduce implementation costs will outdistance new hardware technology in their impact on video surveillance markets. Developments in software control, intelligence at points of observation and improvements in backend operations of recording, storage and retrieval of video data, will also play key roles."

You can get the full piece here.

If you are on the hunt for a colour laser printer, then there is probably no better time than now. As Susan Silvius writes in her article in PC World, this is certainly a buyer's market for printers considering the range of printers available at affordable prices. Obviously, laser printers in the sub-$500 range are bound to have their limitations, but on the other side of the coin, printers that are priced at over $1000 offer an amazing feature set.

As to the key things to look for when buying a colour laser printer, Susan has provided quite a few useful tips in her article.  Here are some of the key points she advises printer buyers to look out for:

i. Printer engine speed, measured in pages per minute (ppm):  The faster the printer speed the better it is, at least from a productivity standpoint. However, it is important to remember that seldom do printers give more than 75% of the claimed PPM in real work-situations.

ii. Maximum duty cycle- this is the typical volume of pages that a printer can print per month, and is generally proportional to the price of the printer. Estimate your monthly printing requirements well to buy a printer with the right duty cycle.

iii.  Resolution -- Susan suggests that a resolution of 600-by-600 dpi should be more than good enough for most business needs.

iv. Cost of operation-- closely factor in the total cost of operation of the printer including the cost of consumables. This can be a significant cost item.

v. Paper capacity- see how much paper can be loaded on to the printer and what size/ type of paper. The more the capacity of the paper tray, lesser the time one has to spend in loading paper.

You can read more of Susan's article on tips to buy a laser printer here.