Fujitsu launches its first network scanner 19 April, 2007 By Vanessa Ho

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"We needed to move with the industry to stay competitive," said Lynn Lagge, manager of product marketing at Fujitsu. "If we are really going to a paperless environment, [the fi-6000NS] is a step into that direction and we really want to help the industry move to more efficient digital documents."

According to Lagge, the new scanner is a turn key solution that companies with an already configured network can plug the device into it and be immediately ready to use as it uses active directory to connect to the network.

Users just load documents of any size from business cards to legal sized paper into the automatic document feeder (which can hold up to 50 pages), determine settings, type in the destination using the embedded, full-size keyboard and press the scan icon on the large touch-screen display.

Lagge said that the keyboard, which can be flipped up to gain access to the exit tray, will mostly be used to send documents to email addresses that aren't part of a company's mail server. The users will generally be using the 8.4 inch, 24-bit color touch screen to determine settings and destinations. In the preview mode, users can zoom in or rotate the image.

The scanner prints in color, grayscale and monochrome at speeds of 25 pages per minute and scans at 50 images per minute for duplex scanning.

As well, the fi-6000NS can scan either to e-mail, print, network folder, network fax or searchable PDF. The latter allows users to password protect their scanned documents to ensure files can only be opened by the intended recipients.

Other features include automatic processing where the scanner will automatically deskew documents that become crooked during scanning or correct documents that are already deskewed. Also, the scanner has automatic size detection, orientation and color detection. Another feature includes blank page removal where if in duplex mode, the scanner won't scan the blank side of a single sided document. The network scanner also boasts ultrasonic double-feed detection.

The Fujitsu fi-6000NS will be available in May through authorized resellers, VARs, and distributors and will be priced at $2,995 (U.S.).

Carmi Levy, senior research analyst with Info-Tech Research Group, said that the fi-6000NS adds network-based functionality and collaboration to the document input process.

"[Fujitsu] recognizes that converting documents from paper to electronic form and integrating them to a collaborative workflow requires a network-centric collaborative tool set. Fujitsu's announcement is saying that scanning isn't just for individuals anymore," he said.

Levy added that while network scanning solutions aren't unique, the one announced by Fujitsu does show that there is significant interest in this market from the major players in imaging.

"We will continue to see announcements like this because it represents the flip side of the imaging market," Levy said. "If you are a strong player in imaging you can hardly afford to ignore the conversion of paper documents to electronic."