| What can you actually think of once you've read | | | | benefit IBM in that it will be able to focus more on |
| the name InfoPrint Solutions Company? You're | | | | its other strategic businesses. |
| right. It's all about providing print solutions to all | | | | Other things to know about InfoPrint Solutions |
| sorts of businesses from the small ones to the | | | | Company |
| larger enterprises. But for some of you out there | | | | This formation is a result of over 40 years of |
| who have heard about InfoPrint, the first thing | | | | IBM'S printing experience and Ricoh's leadership in |
| that comes to mind is its joint venture with two | | | | office solutions. The company expands its |
| prominent business names – Ricoh and IBM. | | | | research and development and continues to offer |
| Some history on InfoPrint Solutions Company | | | | a wide array of products and services to |
| InfoPrint Solutions is actually a very young | | | | consumers. It also will have a more |
| company. In fact, it was conceptualized only in | | | | comprehensive set of offerings in the market. |
| 2007. Wonder how the company was created as | | | | The InfoPrint Solutions Company actually began |
| part of IBM's Printing Systems Division? Here are | | | | its operations in June 4, 2007 with around 1,200 |
| some facts. | | | | employees employed all over the world. It has |
| 1. The joint venture announcement was made | | | | started operating in various countries like Brazil, |
| simultaneously in Armonk, New York and Tokyo, | | | | Australia, Argentina, France, China, Canada, Hong |
| Japan on January 25, 2007. Ricoh and IBM sat | | | | Kong, Spain, Singapore, Mexico, Italy, Switzerland, |
| down together to make some of the plans. Ricoh | | | | Japan, Germany, UK, Taiwan and US. Now, |
| is considered as one of the leaders in digital | | | | InfoPrint has over 2,500 employees worldwide. |
| business solutions. Because of that, it promised to | | | | Since then, InfoPrint was known for providing a |
| strengthen IBM's Printing Systems Division when it | | | | bunch of solutions that caters to production |
| comes to production printing. | | | | printing for all sorts of work environments. They |
| 2. The agreement was closed after Ricoh initially | | | | provide efficient workflow with a very high return |
| bought 51% of the joint venture that is to be | | | | on investment and a low cost of ownership. It |
| called InfoPrint Solutions Company. This amounted | | | | developed IBM AFP or Advanced Function |
| to around $725 million in cash inclusive of the $35 | | | | Presentation Architecture and the Intelligent |
| million management fee received by IBM. But a | | | | Printer Data Stream. Both these products are |
| portion of that amount also formed part of the | | | | specially made for the most essential business |
| remaining 49% for the joint venture. This | | | | printing needs. |
| remaining percentage was to be paid in three | | | | In 2008, InfoPrint's color journey started. It |
| years thus making the joint venture a subsidiary | | | | launched the InfoPrint Pro C900 in October of |
| of Ricoh company. | | | | that year. This one has a different type of laser |
| 3. Before this joint venture happened, Ricoh and | | | | technology that is blended well with inline finishing |
| IBM were already strong business partners. The | | | | and various media options. This product |
| investment made by Ricoh on the joint venture | | | | broadened its market appeal with a PostScript |
| paved the way for innovation and growth for | | | | and TransPromo features. |
| InfoPrint Solutions Company. This in turn will | | | | |