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Panasonic Office Products Compatible with New Worldwide Internet Protocol; While Federal Agencies Won't Have to Comply with the New Internet Protocol Standard Until 2008, Panasonic is Already Way Ahead of the CurveSECAUCUS, N.J. --(Business Wire)-- Feb. 1, 2006 -- It's no secret that the Internet has experienced tremendous growth, especially in China, India and other heavily populated Asian countries. And because of this surge the world is running out of Internet addresses. To solve the problem, Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is being developed to replace the current protocol, IPv4. This major upgrade will not only make trillions of new addresses available, it will also enable thousands of new operational applications and business opportunities. Seven years ago Panasonic began configuring its line of office products to make them compatible with Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). To date, Panasonic has introduced nearly 40 IPv6-ready products including multifunction products (MFP) that print, copy, fax and scan, color laser printers and networked IP cameras. One of the reasons why Panasonic got a jump on IPv6 is that it markets business products used in environments requiring the highest level of innovation and security, from MFPs in the White House to notebook computers used by U.S. military personnel in combat. Panasonic was a sponsor and participant at the recent IPv6 Summit, which had over 600 attendees from technology companies as well as senior military, government and political leaders. A number of key issues and topics regarding the development and implementation of next generation Internet technologies, applications and policies were discussed and explored, including security, mobility and transition/testing. In addition to displaying IPv6-ready products such as its C3 color MFP series and DP-CL22 color laser printer, Panasonic's Dan Hogan, president of the Panasonic Home & Environment Company in Secaucus, NJ, but director of the company's research laboratory in Boston at the time of the summit, addressed the summit on the logistics of creating a secure, networked office. Hogan was among a group of keynote speakers that included Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA), Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Dr. Peter Freeman, assistant director of the National Science Foundation. According to Hogan, while gateways, voice-enabled products and networked cameras are critical products to this (IPv6) development cycle for Panasonic, peripheral products including MFPs and printers are equally vital to strategic planning. "The concept behind the secure IPv6 networked office is to allow both our communication and imaging office automation products to communicate over the same physical network," Hogan told the audience. "The technology strategy is directed to specific product targets like IP-PBX, web meeting systems, secure plain-paper copiers or multifunction devices, using common technology platforms. In all cases, IPv6 is central to the strategy." Hogan also pointed to the fact that Panasonic has already deployed nearly 40 IPv6-ready products designed to comply with both accessibility and security requirements instituted by the federal government. "Although the federal government has targeted 2008 for implementation of IPv6 by all of its agencies, Panasonic has been developing IPv6 business machines since 1998," Hogan said. According to Tony Bhandari, Panasonic Digital Document Company's director of sales, attendees at the summit were impressed with the company's best-selling C3 color multifunction series. "Both MFPs in the series--DP-C322 and DP-C262--feature IPv6 dual stack implementation," Bhandari said. "This means that these MFPs include both IPv4 and IPv6 capabilities, placing them at the head of the class technologically." "We are way ahead of the curve," Hogan agreed, "which gives us an added edge in the ever-evolving networked world." ABOUT PANASONIC In the United States, Panasonic Digital Document Company, a unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, markets a broad line of digital-imaging systems, computer peripherals and office system products designed specifically for business use. Products available include fax and Internet fax machines, digital copiers, network multifunction devices, document management systems, scanners, electronic whiteboards, color and monochrome laser printers, and impact printers. Headquartered in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE:MC) of Osaka, Japan. For more information, visit http://www.panasonic.com/office. EDITOR'S NOTE: End users may obtain sales information by contacting Panasonic at 1-800-742-8086 or 201-348-7000, or by visiting http://www.panasonic.com/office. Please do not publish the editorial contact telephone number. |
