Hewlett Packard has announced a range of internet-enabled printers which will allow both mobile and office-based users to access printers remotely using a variety of devices.

The LaserJet 4100, 3200/ 3200m and 2200 connect to a network and appear as web servers, allowing users to connect to them as they would a real web server and upload data for printing. This can be done with anything from a laptop to a mobile phone or handheld PC.

"The printer can sit on the network with its own unique web address, and anything which you can do on a PC, you will be able to do on a printer," said Peter Urey, HP's UK printer business manager.

"It's better from an IT manger's point of view because it's more manageable and has a lower total cost of ownership (TCO)," he said.

The 4100 model is aimed at large enterprises and it uses HP's embedded virtual machine (EVM) technology. EVM, an embedded operating system, is designed to handle remote management, support and configuration of the printer.

It also includes a Java-based embedded web server which is used to handle communications with other devices.

"Smart printers are the wave of the future. In fact, they're here already," said Angele Boyd, vice president of researcher IDC's peripheral research.

"For example, a corporation can integrate the printer's alert capability into its e-procurement system, so when a toner cartridge is low, it gets replaced," she said.