What does ACS do, the 100-word version
When Xerox announced its $6.4 billion acquisition of ACS yesterday, Web 2.0 types like us out here in San Francisco had only one question: What’s ACS?
Rebecca Scholl from Affiliated Computer Services, a 74,000-employee firm based in Dallas, Texas, sent us the tidy list below, just right for cutting and pasting into a blog post. It explains why ACS is worth exactly 6.4 Twitters.
The video clip tipped us off: ACS runs New York’s E-ZPass customer service. Do they… Continue Reading
M&A binge continues as Xerox buys ACS to get into services
The acquisition binge continues in corporate America as Xerox said today it will buy Affiliated Computer Services in a cash and stock deal valued at $6.4 billion.
With ACS, the copier giant will now expand into services such as collecting tolls and installing computer systems in government agencies. The purchase price is $63.11 a share, a big premium on ACS’ Friday closing price of $47.50 a share.
Xerox will now join battle with HP in print managed… Continue Reading
Xerox launches solid-ink printing in bid to shake up copier/printer market
Xerox is launching a new version of its high-end multifunction copiers that use solid blocks of ink — a cheaper and greener printing solution than ink toner.
The new ColorQube 9200 multifunction copiers are different in that they melt solid blocks of ink that don’t have to be housed in costly and wasteful cartridges. Xerox claims the machines cut printing costs by 62 percent and eliminate 90 percent of the waste of similar copiers.
These $23,500 machines… Continue Reading
For Xerox, print isn’t dead: company launches products at printing Olympics
Xerox is announcing today a new flagship digital commercial printing press, the Xerox igen4, a $640,000 machine that can handle millions of high-quality print jobs in a month.
The machine is the successor to the igen3 of 2002 and is 25 percent to 35 percent more productive than the earlier model. Maybe you could call it a valiant last stand for print, or the dawn of a new era in printing. The company is unveiling it… Continue Reading
Dean’s chat with Mark Bernstein, director of PARC, on how not to fumble the future
Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center showed off 10 fascinating projects this week, everything from eraseable paper to solid-ink printers, but such moments always raise the specter of the past.
Xerox famously failed in the 1970s to commercialize the personal computer, instead letting others, such as Apple’s Steve Jobs, lead the way.
I met with Mark Bernstein, the director of PARC this week as Xerox showed off the fruits of its latest research. In our talk (see audio… Continue Reading
PARC shows off research projects beyond its Xerox work
The famed Palo Alto Research Center opened its doors to journalists today to show off a bunch of research projects from smart documents to cleantech.
Mark Bernstein, head of PARC, told me today that no interviewer ever forgets to ask about how Xerox fumbled the future by failing to commercialize the technologies behind the personal computer that built companies like Apple. But he says the R&D center — the birthplace of the laser printer and Ethernet… Continue Reading
Roundup: MySpace in deals with labels, Tudou raises $53M, and more
MySpace nearing deals with music labels — Before long, MySpace may be offering streaming music and ad-supported downloads from Sony BMG and Warner Music Group, according to a report from the NY Post. A deal with the two music giants might challenge the dominance of Imeem, which has so far held the advantage in its deals with the four music majors.
Tudou.com raises another $53M, maybe — The Chinese video portal Tudou.com may have picked up $53 million,… Continue Reading