News

       After discontinuing the LaserJet E-series printers and barring new customers from signing up for the Instant Ink service, HP is undertaking a major rethink of its “intelligent printing” experiment.
       The decision was made following complaints from customers of Instant Ink and HP+ products who were experiencing difficulties with printers that required them to be connected to the internet.
       The end of support for e-Series hardware coincides with changes to HP’s subscription services. While most HP customers can choose whether to subscribe, those who purchase an e-Series model must sign up for HP+.
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       German site Druckerchannel, which specializes in printer news and reviews, reported on HP’s decision to abandon the subscription model.
       The company said all HP LaserJet printers with model numbers ending in “e” will be discontinued, and the HP+ subscription will no longer be required.
       For those who already have HP+ and Instant Ink subscriptions and are happy with the service, don’t worry – your existing plans will continue to operate.
       While both services will close to new LaserJet customers later this year, they are still available for new registrations.
       It is also worth noting that no changes are expected for inkjet printers, they will only affect users of laser printers.
       HP Instant Ink and HP+ subscription services, launched in 2013 and 2020 respectively, require the printer to be online at all times to effectively automate the ink purchasing process. This has led to a number of customer complaints, which apparently prompted HP to decide to completely remove mandatory HP+ registration and Instant Ink features from LaserJet models.
       Another obvious problem is that two separate subscription services – distinct but overlapping – can create a confusing proposition for customers.
       Instant Ink is a convenient ink replacement service where users can choose a plan based on the number of pages they print each month and pay the corresponding monthly fee. HP will then ship toner based on the users’ needs.
       HP+ turns your device into a “smart printer” with “intelligent cloud connectivity and security.” It includes an Instant Ink subscription, as well as access to the premium HP Smart app and a two-year warranty.
       Since the launch of HP+, our intelligent, connected printing systems have been a hit with customers who value their convenience, extended warranty, and solutions. We recognize that some customers in IT-managed office environments are unable to meet HP+’s cloud connectivity requirements. To provide customers with a superior printing experience across all office environments, we will no longer offer the LaserJet product family for HP+. – HP statement to Druckerchannel
       However, HP+ also requires its subscribers to use only genuine HP cartridges—another problem for users who have signed up (either voluntarily or by mandatory registration) and want to buy more affordable third-party cartridges.
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