QMS IPDS Connectivity Solutions Enable Printers to be Shared Between Mainframe, LAN; New Intelligent Printer Data Stream Converter Provides Seamless Connectivity Between IBM Systems and QMS Crown Network Print Systems

Business Wire, Dec 12, 1995

MOBILE, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 12, 1995--QMS, Inc. (NYSE:AQM), the network printer company, today announced an IPDS printer protocol converter for its Crown printer line, broadening the company's connectivity solutions for mainframe and midrange computing environments.

The Axis IPDS printer protocol converter allows enterprises to replace their legacy line printers with `plug and play' shared laser printers. The new QMS offering is a result of an expanded strategic agreement between QMS and Axis Communications, a leader in mainframe connectivity solutions.

"The growing family of connectivity solutions that QMS is offering meets the needs of users who are rapidly integrating client/server and `big iron' computing infrastructures," said Scott Chandler, QMS director of solutions marketing. "These adapters bridge the gap between mainframe and LAN environments, allowing enterprises to upgrade to the latest output technology and get high quality document printing with minimum cost and system re-engineering."

The QMS mainframe printer protocol converters connect to the parallel interface of the printer and then to the IBM Coax/Twinax host system. With the converter installed, QMS Crown printers are able to simultaneously receive data from IBM mainframes or midrange systems, as well as PC networks, via the QMS CrownNet interface.

QMS Printer Protocol Converters

The Axis AFP printer protocol converter enables QMS Crown printers to be connected to IBM mainframe and midrange systems using IPDS. The AFP converter fully supports all IPDS Towers for advanced graphics, electronic forms, fonts, and bar code printing, as well as a wide set of paper handling, duplexing, color printing and page scaling options. Most importantly, the AFP converter allows a single laser printer to be shared among multiple hosts, rather than the old dedicated line printer configuration common in many mainframe environments. The AFP converter can attach to a variety of Coax and Twinax systems, and emulates a wide range of IBM printers.

QMS also offers the Axis AX-7 Cobra and the AX-3 Cobra printer protocol converters, which enable advanced printing functionality in IBM mainframe and midrange environments, and allow multiple hosts and PC networks to share QMS Crown print systems.

The Axis, AFP, AX-7 Cobra and AX-3 Cobra are available as options to the entire line of QMS Crown print systems.

Pricing and Availability

The Axis AFP printer protocol converter is available immediately and is QMS reference priced at $1,495. The AX-7 Cobra and AX-3 Cobra are available immediately and are QMS reference priced at $995 for the AX-7 and $695 for the AX-3.

QMS laser print systems are available in the U.S. directly from QMS, Inc. and its network of authorized distributors and resellers. Outside the U.S. the laser product family is available from QMS and its authorized distributors.

QMS Crown Print Systems

QMS offers a complete range of monochrome laser print systems with 10 to 45 page-per-minute (ppm) speeds, and color laser printers offering 3-6 ppm in color and 12ppm in monochrome. QMS laser printers are based on QMS Crown and CrownNet technologies. Crown multitasking technology delivers fast document print throughput, software loadable upgradability, automatic compatibility with popular printing languages, and seamless connectivity to virtually any network environment. QMS CrownNet provides simultaneous network protocol support for multiple users and CrownAdmin advanced remote printer management capabilities. QMS laser printers incorporate SLS technology for easy and cost-effective addition of system upgrades and enhancements via the network or host PC.

QMS, Inc.

QMS, Inc. is a leading producer of monochrome and color network capable print systems. The company's print systems fit seamlessly into a wide variety of computer networks, and include color and monochrome laser printers used for electronic publishing, graphic design, office automation, advanced imaging and automatic identification applications. QMS, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock exchange under the symbol AQM. QMS is certified to the ISO 9002 standard for the manufacture of print systems.

QMS, the QMS logo, Crown, CrownNet, and CrownAdmin are registered trademarks or trademarks of QMS, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. -0-

Note to Editors: If your publication prints direct reader contact information, please use the following:

QMS, Inc. One Magnum Pass Mobile, AL 36618 800/523-2696 or 334/633-4300 QMS Internet Address, http://www.qms.com

CONTACT: A&R Partners

Robson Grieve, 415/363-0982 ext. 21

robson_grieve@arpartners.com