Rank Xerox (UK) Ltd has launched a new Advanced Function Presentation front-end for its printer series, designed to compete head-to-head with IBM Corp. According to high-end systems printing business team manager Mark Davies, not catering for all printer languages excluded Xerox from a large section of the print market, and the company hopes the new line will redress the balance. Davies estimates that 25% to 35% of businesses use the Advanced Function Presentation language originally developed by IBM, with usage particularly prevalent in the financial and insurance sectors. Customers with Xerox kit previously had to reprogram their core applications to make the data stream compatible. A messy system, said Davies, adding that it was difficult to convince customers that it was worth the extra effort, when IBM could offer a fully-compatible system. The new Intelligent Print Stream series from Xerox is fully-compatible with the group three Advanced Function Presentation environment. Volume shipping will begin worldwide this month.
