Dell To ExpandLine Of Printing, Imaging Items
By Doug Olenick -- TWICE, 1/19/2004
LAS VEGAS— Dell said it had inked technology agreements with Samsung, Kodak and Fuji Xerox that would lead to new imaging and printing product offerings from Dell.
Chairman Michael Dell made the announcement during his Industry Insiders speech at CES.
Dell would not give out any product details saying only that the deals were similar to the one it now has with Lexmark. Under that agreement the two companies co-develop inkjet printers are then sold by Dell under its own brand name, said Timothy Peters, Dell's VP/GM of imaging and printing.
The new deals will have no impact on the Lexmark arrangement, Peters said. Each firm is now developing printers for release later this year. A Lexmark spokesman said the company is happy with both its current arrangement with Dell and the newly announced contracts.
Peters said the new deals were struck in response to consumer requests. Dell intends to tap each of the companies' technology and intellectual property rights in order to expand its own products and services.
Representatives on hand from the imaging and printing divisions of Kodak, Fuji, Xerox and Samsung would not give specifics on what technologies may be supplied to Dell.
