IBM Introduces Mid-Volume Thermal and RFID Printing Solution

ORLANDO, FL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- April 30, 2007 -- RFID Journal Live - Booth # 723 -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced the InfoPrint® 6700 M40, a new member of the InfoPrint 6700 family of thermal/RFID printers. This mid-volume offering provides a robust label printing solution that optimizes supply chain operations and asset management. The InfoPrint 6700 M40 thermal printer is designed for small- and medium-sized businesses as well as large enterprises with mid-volume requirements that require exceptional reliability, flexible media handling, support for barcodes, and an upgrade path to RFID.

This announcement follows the recent announcement by IBM and Ricoh regarding their joint venture, InfoPrint Solutions Company, based on IBM's Printing Systems Division. This new product demonstrates the future joint venture's commitment to innovation, meeting customers' needs and expanding its solution portfolio.

The new InfoPrint 6700 M40 offers customers the widest selection of field upgradeable options in the industry, including RFID, providing a flexible solution and protecting the customer's investment. The M40 provides a wide range of connectivity options including serial, parallel, USB 2.0, Ethernet, and wireless Ethernet. In addition, The M40 control unit can handle many industry standard thermal data streams, enabling customers to consolidate multiple printers with a single device and reduce operational costs.

As with all IBM industrial printers, the InfoPrint 6700 M40 includes remote management features optimizing availability. With IBM's Print Management Utility (PMU), customers can remotely check the status of the system, perform diagnostics, change or reload configuration settings, and take traces, enabling high availability for mission critical applications. The M40 also offers PXML integration with IBM WebSphere, providing customers with the ability to centralize management of printer and reader devices in the warehouse.

"The introduction of the M40 expands the InfoPrint 6700 family capturing new customers with a lower price point in an exciting marketplace," said Gary Borgese, Program Director, WW Industrial Product Solutions, IBM Printing Systems Division. "Customers with lower print volumes can now also benefit from RFID technology to optimize their supply chain and asset management applications."

The general availability date for the IBM InfoPrint 6700 M40 is May 4, 2007 in North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. For additional information about IBM, please visit www.ibm.com. For more information about the IBM InfoPrint 6700 M40, visit www.ibm.com/printers/thermal/M40.

About IBM

For additional information about IBM, please visit www.ibm.com. For more information about IBM's print solutions, visit www.ibm.com/printers.

Editors Note: Exact speed varies depending on document complexity, system configuration, software application, driver and printer state.

Contact Information: Media Contact Breakaway Communications for IBM Printing Systems: Kelly Fitzgerald Email Contact 212-616-6006 Tracey Sheehy Email Contact 212-616-6003