HP has created what it calls “a new era for printing.” It added eight imaging and printing solutions to its enterprise portfolio targeted to customers in the higher education, public sector, retail, transportation/logistics and financial services industries. Designed to streamline information workflows and reduce costs, HP will seek to capture a significant share of the 53 trillion digital pages estimated to be printed in 2010 alone. HP is targeting campuses of higher learning as well. They plan to deliver powerful capabilities ranging from mobile printing and user-based, per-page accounting, to the consolidation of copying, scanning, imaging and printing devices in a secure networked environment. 

Students enjoy added flexibility and institutions benefit from new revenues

Andy Williams, Contributing Editor

In the drive for more bucks–and don’t kid yourself, nearly every college and university needs more money, particularly in today’s tax revolt environment–one overlooked revenue stream could be as near as the pizza joint next door to the college.

Off campus card usage is becoming more common among campuses, particularly since campus card companies have overcome one of the major obstacles: the institution’s perceived loss of on-campus revenue. The fear of ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ kept many colleges from pursuing off-campus programs … But fear seems to have largely subsided. 

Students using CBORD’s CS Gold cards, which the company inherited when it purchased Diebold’s campus card systems two years ago, will now be able to use their card accounts to pay for printing and copying jobs with GoPrint’s multi-platform pay-for-print service. CBORD’s Odyssey card users already enjoy this benefit. 

After 11 years of the same format and old technolges, the University of Illinois has redesigned their student ID card, the i-card. The new cards were released Ma 14th with a brand new modern look and abundance of new features which make life easier for UIC students. The most important feature of the re-designed i-card is its capacity to be used as an ATM or debit card, in conjunction with TCF Bank. TCF Bank has taken the role of official banking entity to the University of Illinois, and offers students incentives such as free checking accounts, as well as a myriad of other banking and financial services. According to the independent student publicaiton of the University of Illinois at Chicago, this is a single identification card that serves as a tool for university services, banking services, and an abundance of other conveniences that has the potential to alleviate some of the everyday stresses that students undergo.  

Campus card and security industry veteran Mark Doi will lead HID Global’s education market efforts as the new director of business development. Mark will work with campus administrators migrating to multi-function iCLASS cards via the new HID Identity business unit. Mark is a longtime friend of CR80News and the campus card industry, having served the market in prior roles with Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies and Onity. 

Messages are sent to email or cell phone when wash and dry cycles are complete

by Ryan Kline, Contributing Editor

The campus card has helped to alleviate the frantic search for quarters that characterizes the student laundry experience. Card-based payment solves that problem, but what will solve the problem the ever so busy college student faces now – waiting … and waiting for open washers and dryers?

Students use the Internet for almost everything … but laundry? Yes, the online revolution has reached the laundry room. At least four companies are offering solutions to monitor the laundry facilities and allow students to view machine availability in real-time. At least one other company, CBORD, is beta testing a new laundry monitoring solution. 

The future of campus cards goes mobile

Andy Williams, Contributing Editor

As wireless connectivity becomes the norm rather than the exception, colleges are finding greater uses for handheld PDA-type devices that can simplify everything from taking food orders to checking students in during an event, such as a football game.

Meal vending, picnics, field trips, photo or event verification, even shuttle buses all lend themselves to handheld usage. One thing’s for sure: colleges certainly have a variety of wireless devices from which to choose.