BOULDER, CO - July 31, 2006 - IBM today announced two new printers designed to allow clients to print in high quality color while managing overall costs. Innovative technology allows clients to effectively manage the devices and help make color printing affordable for a broad range of print jobs. Color printing is a growing trend in office environments. According to Robert Palmer, director, InfoTrends, Inc., sales of workgroup color printers are climbing due to competitive pricing and an increased desire among office users to bring color into more documents. “Placements of single-function color workgroup laser printers rose 66% between 2004 and 2005,” said Palmer. “We expect the workgroup color page printer market to grow approximately 30% in 2006, with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 17% between 2005 and 2010.” “As clients move more of their day-to-day printing to color devices, there is a growing need to combine advanced security and management functions so they can get a handle on the higher costs that come with color printing,” said Doug Oathout, vice president of IBM Printing Systems. “The new models we"re introducing offer clients a leading-edge combination of speed, security, image quality and cost effectiveness – providing them with the opportunity to truly reinvent their approach to office printing.” The IBM Infoprint 1654 is an A4/color or monochrome device for any size workgroup that prints up to 25 pages per minute (ppm) for letter-size paper. It delivers exceptional performance, driven by a powerful processor and substantial memory. IBM"s Color Care Technology delivers high quality with 1200x1200 dots per inch (dpi) resolution at reduced speeds. The IBM Infoprint 1664 is an A4/color or monochrome device for a wide range of job types that prints at up to 25 ppm for letter-size paper. It enhances document confidentiality with multiple layers of security and allows walk-up users to print directly from the printer with a USB flash memory device. Built-in Print Management Technology Helps Control Cost New technology can help clients manage the printers to help keep color printing affordable, while enjoying the added benefits that color brings to marketing presentations and other documents. The technology allows clients to assign color print permissions to individual users; use toner saver settings; and implement black and white lock modes that restrict color access. Innovative Models Designed with the User in Mind The new Infoprint 1654 and 1664 models feature innovative design and functionality advantages over previous models, including: Graphical operator panel -- provides “show me” and “tell me more” screens to increase user productivity and quality control. Integrated security features -- advanced encryption and PIN security functionality to maintain confidentiality and protect jobs during transmission. More toner included in the box – more toner means users can get better value and the printers can run longer before additional toner is required. Direct-to-Print USB connectivity – users can print through USB memory devices directly connected on the operator panel. The Infoprint 1654 and Infoprint 1664 are expected to be generally available in the United States and Canada on August 11, 2006. For more information about IBM"s print solutions visit www.ibm.com/printers