QMS Sets New Standard for Ease of Use in Network Printing; Enhanced Printer Management Tools Save Time, Increase Productivity.

MOBILE, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 21, 1998--QMS, Inc. (NYSE:AQM) today unveiled a new suite of printer features that make it easy for businesses to focus on essential daily activities, instead of spending time configuring and maintaining their printers. Introduced with the recently announced QMS(R) magicolor 330 and QMS 3260 Print Systems, these features simplify all aspects of printer interaction, saving valuable time for system administrators and end-users alike. From installation and set up, to configuration and monitoring, time once spent on regulating printing activities is freed up for more important tasks.

"QMS customers will see immediate improvement in workgroup productivity as easy printer management allows users to focus on performing their job -- not managing print jobs," said Richard Bowles, vice president of QMS Marketing. "Even employees challenged with overseeing business systems and network peripherals will experience an instant impact with these new, ease-of-use enhancements."

QMS CrownView is one of the most popular methods for checking print jobs and printer status. This Web page inside the printer is viewed using technology many people use every day -- the Internet. Through their favorite browser, users can tell exactly where their print job stands -- whether it's still spooling, is number three in line to be printed, or ready to be picked up. Help Desk operators can use this same Web page to link directly to the printer for quick troubleshooting. From the convenience of the desktop, QMS CrownView displays what used to take a trip down the hall to discover. Because QMS CrownView is a printer resident feature, no special hardware or software must be added to use this powerful tool.

QMS CrownView uses graphical "gas gauge" style displays to show consumable levels, including toner and paper, letting users know ahead of time if enough remains for their document. It eliminates the scenario of retrieving a print job only to find half the pages didn't print because the printer was out of paper. This same real-time information is available in the QMS PostScript(TM) driver for Windows(R) 95/98 and in a consumable's status page that can be seen in QMS CrownView or retrieved from the printer's control panel.

With the installation of QMS printers, system administrators have even more control than in the past. The difference now is printer users are armed with many of the same management tools for managing their print jobs, making them less dependent on the administrator and IT Help Desk for basic management tasks. Because QMS offers several methods of user-to-printer interaction, individuals can choose the technique with which they feel most comfortable. All present information in a clear, simple format in which everyone -- not just the network guru -- can relate.

"We're offering customers more choices in how they'd like to interact with QMS printers," said Melvin Evans, network product manager at QMS. "As users realize how easy network printing can be, they'll become more self-reliant in handling daily document printing."

QMS' most robust network printer administration tool is QMS CrownAdmin 3. This software package allows organizations to easily set up, maintain, and manage printers across an entire network, reducing burdensome and time-consuming maintenance activities. QMS CrownAdmin 3's real-time remote printer access feature is the perfect example. It allows administrators to perform enterprise-wide printer configuration -- simultaneously -- without having physical contact with the printer. What used to take hours now takes only seconds. In addition to QMS printers, QMS CrownAdmin 3 can manage any MIB-II compliant or SNMP-configured network device as well, giving administrators a single, easy-to-use method for complete printer supervision.

For the ultimate in flexibility, now systems managers don't even have to be in their office to know there's a printer issue to be addressed. QMS printers can send an email to any designated workstation, even a beeper, to alert administrators when it requires attention. The message gives a complete description of the printer problem, including the printer name, location, and the specific offline condition. This instant messaging prevents unnecessary printer and employee downtime as issues are corrected immediately.

Even QMS printer documentation is easy to use. Manuals provided on CD-ROM are fully searchable to pinpoint the required subject instantly. Audio/video clips walk users through installation, operation, and troubleshooting actions -- simplifying printer use from the very start. Administrators can mount the CD-ROM on the network server for general access, reducing support costs and printer down time.

Printer management is just one facet of QMS printers' "usability." Recent product introductions include many features that ensure time used printing is spent wisely:

-- NEC VR4300(TM)-series RISC processor & QMS Crown(R) controller

technology: These two features work hand in hand to print

documents at the fastest possible speed. Processing and printing

one document while another is being received ensures users won't

be kept waiting. -- Standard 10BaseT/100BaseTX Ethernet(R) interface: This

multiprotocol interface doesn't discriminate against protocol or

platform. It accepts data from practically any source, routing to

the printer on a first come, first served basis. Supporting both

10BaseT and 100BaseTX networks means businesses can protect their

printer investment when migrating from one type of network to the

other, and won't have to make any changes to complete the

transition. -- Hands-free document handling: Businesses can let QMS printers

perform tasks that once required tedious manual intervention,

such as duplexing, collation, stapling, and copying. -- Auto-installing software utilities: Many QMS printer management

tools can be auto-installed from CD-ROM. Select the desired

programs and the CD-ROM will take care of the rest.

"Our goal is to completely remove the difficulties of network printing, simplifying the entire process for both printer users and those responsible for printer management," continued Evans. "For our customers, this user-friendly operation translates to improved employee performance and time better spent on job-related assignments."

QMS, Inc.

QMS products are available in the U.S. from QMS' network of authorized distributors and remarketers. Outside the U.S., QMS products are available from authorized QMS distributors.

QMS, Inc. is a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance color and monochrome document printing solutions for office automation, electronic publishing, graphic design, and advanced imaging applications. The QMS product line redefines network printing by combining feature-packed, performance printing with easy, cost-effective operation. To give customers the most complete network printing solutions, QMS offers practical printer management software, systems integration, and responsive technical support. QMS backs each product with an extensive range of service offerings and more than two decades of dedicated, professional experience. Distributed through a global network of reseller and distribution partners, QMS products can be found virtually anywhere in the world. QMS, Inc. is based in Mobile, Alabama, and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AQM.

Editors Note: 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, Inc. Canada 2600 Skymark Avenue, Building 5 Mississauga, Ontario L4W 5B2 905/206-0848

QMS Internet Address (http://www.qms.com)

QMS, the QMS logo, Crown, CrownAdmin, and CrownView are trademarks or registered trademarks of QMS. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective manufacturers.