NORWALK, CONNECTICUT: Xerox Corporation today announced Xerox Print Services, a set of services and tools that help small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) better manage their printing infrastructure and reduce costs.

Delivered through the company's network of channel partners, Xerox Print Services is based on the company's industry-leading enterprise managed print services that Xerox provides directly to corporations like Procter & Gamble, KeyCorp and Dillard's, Inc.

Xerox Print Services is part of the company's channel managed print services portfolio – which offers a common technology platform and global support infrastructure that is customized by geography to meet specific channel and delivery requirements. Xerox Print Services is currently available in Western Europe only; North America and other countries will offer their own versions in the third quarter of this year.

"Just like major corporations, SMBs are looking for ways to cut costs – and we are equipping our channel partners with the technology and knowledge to make that possible," said Stephen Cronin, president, Xerox Global Services. "To simplify for our customers how to better manage their printing, we're taking a brand-agnostic approach to the value we provide to SMBs.

Regardless of the type of document device or brand, Xerox Print Services can help lower print and copy costs, reduce IT support and increase office productivity."

Xerox Print Services give partners the flexibility to build their own branded capability while taking advantage of the training, services, supplies, software and technology support provided worldwide through Xerox.

For example, partners will undergo a comprehensive accreditation course covering areas key to a managed print services deployment, such as assessment, design, implementation and management. Partners will receive detailed reports on equipment and network usage patterns and have access to third-party supplies and break-fix support for competitive equipment at favorable terms negotiated by Xerox.

"Leveraging the management infrastructure that Xerox has invested in for several years and making it available to medium-sized companies should significantly increase the consideration rate for this offering," said Michael Orasin, research manager for Hardcopy Document Software & Services, IDC. The firm predicts the managed print services market to be a $21.2 billion worldwide opportunity in 2011.

Xerox Print Services feature is an all-inclusive approach, in which customers pay only for the software and services used.