Hungate Business Services Blog

Xerox Duty Cycle Demystified

2009-12-09T22:16:00.013-05:00

Monthly Duty Cycle Is Confusing

The “monthly duty cycle” specification that is found on most Xerox printers, and multifunction devices can get a customer thinking down the wrong path. Simply put, it’s entirely possible that a potential buyer can interpret this number to mean something that it isn’t. For example, the Xerox Phaser 8860, a fantastic solid ink printer is advertised as having a 120,000 page per month duty cycle. Does this mean you can run this printer at that volume consistently for every month you own it? No. It simply won’t hold up for very long.

Why does Xerox “advertise” this number?

Xerox defines duty cycle as “the maximum number of pages a device could deliver in a month. This metric provides a comparison of robustness in relation to other Xerox printers and MFP’s.”

The key word here is could.

In layman's terms, your car may register 240 mph, but more than likely you’re not going to consistently travel at that speed. Duty cycle is an advertisement more than anything. Every major manufacturer unfortunately does it - not just Xerox. Just understand that duty cycle is not the end-all barometer to base your volume needs when you’re evaluating office equipment.

Fear not. There’s recommended Monthly Page Volume.

Recommended Monthly Page Volume, also known as Average Monthly Print Volume (AMPV), is what needs to be considered the most. It is defined as the “range of pages that helps customers evaluate Xerox’s product offerings based on the average number of pages customers plant to print on the device each month. Xerox recommends that the number of pages per month be within the stated range for optimum device performance...etc.”

The only issue with AMPV is finding the particulars because it’s usually buried in a White Paper somewhere. You’re best suited to contact your local Xerox Sales Representative for these details. They should be able to find this information within a few mouse clicks.

To finish our thoughts on the Xerox Phaser 8860 printer, it’s only recommended to run between 1,000 and 10,000 impressions per month. This is nonetheless a far cry from the 120,000 monthly duty cycle mark. As mentioned before, get advice and be an informed buyer - vendors and customers alike don’t like a bad sale.

6 Simple Ways To Keep Your Xerox Copier Running Like a Champ

2009-11-24T14:08:00.017-05:00

In a perfect world, these fantastic gizmos that put marks on paper would never fail on us. However, it’s all too familiar that when we need our multifunction office equipment to perform the most, problems arise.

We get the urgent calls everyday, and thankfully with the award winning Xerox platforms we support most issues can be fixed either on the phone or within 24 hours. However, here are some quick tips to keep in mind to help you avoid potential issues:

1. Use Fresh Paper

If anyone’s heard the excuse from their copier technician “...it’s the paper” without much explanation, I can only imagine the rage one feels. However, there’s definitely some merit in the fact that paper can play an important role with equipment performance. Moisture, dust and temperature can all have negative effect on how the machine operates. Try to use paper within a week or two after opening in normal operating environments. In humid or dusty conditions, use only what you need on a daily basis.

2. Less Hands = Less Jams

People use technology differently, and when more people have access to the equipment, more problems are inevitable to occur. If your office has the luxury of a smaller group of people dedicated to using the machine, you’re much better off.

3. If There’s a Problem, Let Someone Know About It

It’s surprising how long problems go unreported. In larger workgroups, issues tend become someone else’s problem to deal with when there is an alternative method to getting documents produced. Inheriting a paper jam is never is fun; post your local Xerox service provider’s number near the machine and require someone internally to be the "go to person" when situations arise.

4. Remember It’s Still a Machine

Machines are mechanical and unfortunately they are going to break down. We pride ourselves at Hungate Business Services in selling the best product and services in the imaging industry, however things do happen. Report issues promptly and there’s a good chance you’ll be up and running within a day or less.

5. Don’t Try to Perform Maintenance Yourself

No help needed from the weekend do-it-yourselfer’s. These devices are high-tech, and very sensitive to the slightest error for many of the internal components. Xerox equipment design is intuitive enough for even the most novice of users for common functions and clearing problems. However, if something isn’t working based on what the touch screen instructs you to do, proceed no further and contact your service provider. Most vendors will charge you if you break something while attempting to do a repair (even if you have a service contract), so don’t take the chance.

6. Use Genuine OEM Xerox Parts and Supplies

Only use manufacturer recommended consumables in your office equipment. If you’re purchasing Xerox supplies, make sure you’re buying them from an Authorized Sales Agent or Dealer. If they are included in your contract, request that these components come directly from the manufacturer. Supplies in the Xerox world have gotten so advanced, that toner is even chemically grown - even the slightest micron off can compromise quality and overall reliability of the equipment.

Easy Ordering for Xerox Metered Supplies

2009-11-05T10:33:00.005-05:00

If you have a Xerox metered or cost per copy supply contract with your local Xerox Sales Agent, you can now order your supplies via the web at the Xerox Metered Supplies page. Simply fill in your organization's specifics, as well as filling in equipment serial number(s) and meter readings. Delivery usually takes 3-5 business days depending on stock availability.

Check it out next time you need a refresh - it's an easy one-page checkout that's a real time saver.

HP Rewards of Choice

2009-10-12T12:59:00.004-04:00

Hungate Business Services is offering a $15 Gift Card with the purchase of two of the same HP Toner Cartridges October 9th through November 15th or while supplies last. All of our discounted HP toners are eligible (dual/multi packs count as one cartridge). Please note that inkjet cartridges do not qualify with this offer.

You can choose your $15 Gift Card(s) from:

BP or Shell Gas Stations
Barnes & Noble
Lowes Home Improvement
Darden Restaurants: Bahama Breeze, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Longhorn, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52

Qualifying orders will receive a redemption form in shipment, which includes instructions to the HP redemption website: www.rewardsofchoice.com. The form will include your unique pass-code and zip code information allowing entry into website. Once entered, you can then select a Gift Card(s) of choice. The process usually takes about 2-4 weeks.

Xerox Product Updates

2009-09-30T22:24:00.006-04:00

Effectively immediately, we've got to say goodbye to the following products that are no longer available for order taking from our Xerox factory direct store.

Xerox WorkCentre 4150
Xerox Phaser 6130
Xerox Phaser 7400
Xerox FaxCentre 2121

Although inventory of these models have been depleted, supplies such as toner, drum units, fusers, and maintenance kits etc. for all models will continue to be available for purchase.

The WorkCentre 4150 has been replaced by the Xerox WorkCentre 4250, boasting impressive upgrades including IPV6, faster color scanning, 7” full color touch screen, USB thumb drive printing and a larger automatic document feeder that holds 100 sheets. This new device combines world class multifunction capabilities with exceptional reliability and ease of use. It is ideal for the busy office that needs large departmental MFP capabilities in a letter sized, value priced device.

The Phaser 7400 has been succeeded by the Xerox Phaser 7500. Improvements include the use of FX designed LED print technology and EA High Gloss toner. It also offers higher image quality and delivers a more consistent print quality than the Phaser 7400. The 7500 will also support heavier media than the Phaser 7400 for both simplex (280 gsm) and duplex (220 gsm) print jobs. The Phaser 7500 is an ideal color printer for general office customers requiring high speed A3 (tabloid) color printing with support for a wide range of media weights.

A new product announcement that will replace the Phaser 6130 is slated for October 6, 2009. A succession for the FaxCentre 2121 is not planned at this time. Customers are invited to view the Xerox FaxCentre 2218 for dedicated faxing requirements.

Xerox Toner Scams: Don’t Be a Victim

2009-09-28T11:15:00.008-04:00

They’re known in the industry as “Toner Phoners”. Scam artists that try to pass off as Xerox employees or affiliates. These individuals commonly will claim to be “customer service reps” following up on mechanical issues with your imaging device. He or she will then add that they are sending you discount toner at a special rate for your troubles, asking for the equipment serial number, model and contact information. Once this information is obtained, the fake outfit will start sending phony invoices for products that more than likely never arrived.

Every year in the U.S., toner phoners rake in millions by fooling honest, unsuspecting business owners. Don’t be a statistic, here’s how you can protect yourself.

1. Know who you are working with:
Always buy Xerox supplies from a reputable seller. When you purchase products from an unfamiliar source, you’re always taking a risk. Look for the “Authorized Xerox Sales Agent” logo or any other Xerox branded credentials when you are shopping online to ensure you are getting from a direct source.

2. Know how the good guys operate:
If a telephone representative calls and asks for the serial number of your device, they are probably fake. If someone is really from Xerox they should already have your serial, make and model numbers.

3. If in doubt, ask questions:
If you have any hesitation before making a transaction, get the company and employee names, website and anything else that may come in handy if something comes up to be fraudulent.

Two more important questions to ask:
Will there be any additional charges other than state and local taxes? If the answer is "yes", discontinue the conversation immediately. What is your name and employee ID number? By law, telephone representatives are required to tell you what company is soliciting your business at the beginning of the conversation. Hearing answers to these questions can allow you to quickly determine if you are dealing with a legitimate establishment.

If you feel that you have been targeted by a fraudulent activity in regard to Xerox supplies, contact the Xerox Silent Witness Program at 1-800-338-2327 immediately. To order genuine supplies for your imaging device, call us today at 1-800-827-5424. You can also visit our Xerox Supplies section on our website for quick and easy ordering.

Copier Industry Jargon Explained

2009-09-11T14:05:00.006-04:00

Do the words like gamut, coverage, calibration, and duty cycle make sense? What about acronyms such as ADF, CPC, AMPV, CMYK? Obviously not words or phrases used in every day conversation. However when evaluating imaging products such as multifunction copiers and printers, they have their place of importance. Many brochures and websites are packed full of jargon that can be confusing. To shed some light, feel free to download our guide to Copier Industry Jargon. It outlines commonly used expressions, acronyms and technologies that will help simplify key messages about these products.

Xerox and ScanFlowStore Helps Doctor’s Office Stay Error Proof

2009-07-28T08:00:00.004-04:00

Family Physicians of Marion, a local healthcare provider in Marion,VA had trouble keeping up with the constant influx of patient records. Data was being keyed in their electronic medical records system, but due to human error sometimes the scope of work performed wasn’t always entered correctly. As a countermeasure, boxes of documents remained as the proof of the exact work that was being done when clients visited the office. This data had to be kept to answer questions from patients as well as insurance companies. Inefficient, manual retrieval to these documents were also common, and took a considerable amount of time away from employee activities, some records were kept at an off-site location.

Dr. Robert Clampitt, head physician at Family Physicians investigated possible solutions with the help from local Xerox Sales Agent, Hungate Business Services. After a comprehensive study, a Xerox WorkCentre Pro 238 was recommended in conjunction with ScanFlowStore document management software. The solution was designed to be simple for users, and enabled quick retrieval for these documents when they were needed.

With the new Xerox document management architecture in place, a “superbill” is created and printed. This document is marked appropriately by the nurses and doctors for the services performed. At checkout, the superbill is scanned into their server database using the Xerox WorkCentre Pro 238. ScanFlowStore quietly works in the background without additional user intervention. Paper files are then converted to electronic PDF’s, date stamped, and automatically filed under a pre-determined folder on their server.

“Our workflow was overhauled overnight, but the results have been well received. Documents are now at the fingertips of office staff simply by doing a desktop search or quickly browsing the appropriate folder. Finding documents in the “Banker Box Abyss”, is a thing of the past. Patient records can be called up quickly and easily without sacrificing office staff time. ScanFlowStore, Xerox, and Hungate Business Services have been a tremendous value for our practice.”

What is Print Coverage, and Why You Should Care

2009-07-21T08:25:00.000-04:00

Print coverage can be described as the amount of toner that covers a letter size sheet of paper. When you buy toner cartridges or any of the other components that go into putting marks on a document i.e. drums, imaging units, etc., all have a stated yield published. The industry standard is measured at 5%. Unfortunately, 5% is not a whole lot of print coverage. This "industry standard" is only equivalent to a standard business letter or fax cover sheet.

If your office functions like most, you're not going to be printing the same thing over and over. Therefore, there is a good chance that your coverage is going to be all over the map. Point being your printer costs per page are going to fluctuate when you print.

Why should you care? It really comes down to overall printing cost per page and getting the best printer or multifunction device for your business. As mundane as it may seem, you need to think about what your typical printed documents will be like before you buy a new printer. If your documents look like the 5% example you will probably be a satisfied customer, however if you are doing more coverage like the 15% example, you may be better off purchasing a multifunction device or asking for a cost per print plan from your office supply vendor because of the lower operation cost.

To illustrate further, browse the links below from Xerox and HP to show how your costs will be impacted at specific areas of coverage with their printers.

You should consider a multifunction copier device if you think your print costs could get out of hand or if you are unsure of your output. Multifunction devices (copy, print, fax, scan, etc.) are usually higher in initial acquisition cost but have a lower operating cost per page. For example, you may spend twice as much up front on a multifunction device, but your cost per page may be three times less. Most vendors have a fixed cost per page plans that allow the end user to pay for what they produce in regards to black and white/color prints. In-turn, the vendor supplies all the toner and maintenance for the product.

New Hungate Business Services TV Ad

2009-07-15T23:02:00.002-04:00

New ScanFlowStore Zone OCR Simplifies Data Capture

2009-07-13T15:52:00.004-04:00

Almost every organization has many different types of records that can be separated into criteria with non-structured and structured data or values. Documents with non-structured data need to be scanned separately, in order to add specific search criteria (metadata) to each scanning job. However, documents with structured data, such as forms and invoices, can consistently contain the same type of values like a date or customer name. Using ScanFlowStore’s Zone OCR, a user can now easily streamline the scanning process of documents with structured data on Xerox WorkCentre device.

ScanFlowStore now has the ability to automatically process large amounts of documents such as invoices or forms utilizing Zone OCR, giving every user the possibility to save time and money. Create a search option for a value such as a date mentioned on documents, and ScanFlowStore will automatically search for this value when scanning a document. Or, pre-select areas on a document template based on fixed coordinates and/or parts where metadata can be found. ScanFlowStore will use the retrieved values to fill the PDF properties, name the document, create folders and can even route the documents directly to the correct destination, which can be a Windows file structure, Microsoft SharePoint, Xerox DocuShare or any other location. Now a user can simplify the process of handling large amounts of paper documents and increase efficiency.

Xerox Scanning Solution Helps Law Firm Takes The Guess Work Out of Finding Documents

2009-07-06T10:52:00.009-04:00

Greeneville, TN based law firm Milligan & Coleman needed help locating their documents fast. Traditional methods of storage and filing had been in place for decades, and finding information on cases just wasn’t very practical. By the shear nature of their business, thousands of documents went into each case. This was compounded by the fact that many of their proceedings involved clients in the Healthcare industry where the amount of case documents can be staggering.

Jeff Ward, managing partner at Milligan & Coleman, enlisted the help of Hungate Business Services and Xerox to simplify their processes. For the hardware, a Xerox WorkCentre 255 was selected, complimented by ScanFlowStore software to address the the back-end scanning workflow. The Xerox WorkCentre was used to scan each document, and the ScanFlowStore directed where the scans were ultimately filed on their network. The process and results have been well received, and the time to locate documents has been minimized.

“Before the Xerox WorkCentre and ScanFlowStore system was installed, we had no real scanning solution in place other than desktop scanners that were slow and inefficient. We had significant overhead in our manual processes with the current workflow. Before implementation, we had hoped to serve our clients and colleagues quicker with things like scanning to e-mail and directly filing digital documents in their respective file folders on our Windows Server. The system works very well, and it does exactly what it needs to do; we’re finding more uses for it everyday. We have some individuals that use it more than others but I know it’s been a real time saver for me, especially for medical records. I’m able to store records on a flash drive when I go to client sites, rather than taking boxes. Things have gotten much quicker in terms of finding the documents we need and the system is smart enough to OCR all the scanned documents, making everything searchable on my desktop. The ScanFlowStore features also include placing a Bates Stamp on the images so it is easily identified with the appropriate case. We’ve really enjoyed the solution thus far and look forward to growing with it in the future."

Free HP Gas Cards Are Back!

2009-06-01T11:48:00.003-04:00

Just in time for road trip season! Now until June 12th, you can receive a $15 American Express Fill-it-Up Gas Card with the purchase of two of the same HP LaserJet Toner Cartridges when shopping in our store.

Please note that Dual Packs count as one, and there is a limit of five gas cards per order. Also, government cartridges are not eligible. Supplies are limited, so act fast!

Solid-Ink, Just as Good as Laser

2009-05-28T21:07:00.006-04:00

The assault of solid-ink technology on the imaging market is continuing to gain momentum in the industry. With the latest introduction of ColorQube, the Xerox portfolio is growing with these types of devices, building on the successful releases of the Phaser 8560, Phaser 8860 series printers and MFP’s. However, critics argue that images won’t have the longevity or durability vs. traditional laser technology.

In a May 2009, a comprehensive study from Buyers Lab (BLI) (a private 3rd party company used for imaging evaluations) found no evidence that suggested solid-ink had any less “image permanence” than that of laser technology. BLI evaluated the Xerox ColorQube 9203, Canon ImageRunner C5180, HP CM6040f and the Ricoh MP C5000 – all utilizing laser based systems except the ColorQube. They judged the machines with four tests: abrasion/smudge resistance, offsetting, document feeding and writeability. Multiple samples that were taken from both laser and solid-ink devices scored the exact same performance ratings. Simply put, there was no difference between the two technologies. In fact, BLI went on to summarize that their findings “clearly demonstrate that Xerox’s solid-ink imaging technology provide image permanence that is comparable to that of color laser imaging technology and is well suited to standard office use.”

Free Xerox ColorQube Samples

2009-05-21T15:47:00.006-04:00

There’s lots of buzz these days around the Xerox ColorQube, the revolutionary new device that has the industry turning heads with its unique solid ink technology. For the uninitiated, ColorQube takes a queue from the successful Xerox Phaser solid ink line such as the Phaser 8560 and Phaser 8860, transforming it into a very impressive multifunction device. Not a big deal for most, except for the fact that now color costs can now be done at less than a penny per page with some of the service plans available through your local Xerox Sales Agent. Yes, you read that correctly…less than a penny for color. These costs can vary, so be sure to consult with your local Xerox Sales Representative for specific details.

Given the hype and early success of this product, ColorQube is difficult to acquire in most markets. Major cities have had the first roll out, but lead times are still several weeks. If you’re curious about the quality of output, send your .pdf file to info@hbsx.com and we will gladly send you a sample print from the new ColorQube. Files will be shipped to you at no charge and please allow a week or so for delivery. Also note that this offer is only for continental U.S. customers.

Terrific Blog Makeover for Hungate Business Services

2009-05-11T21:59:00.004-04:00

We launched a new look for our Blog today with the help of the team over at Brand Labs. Brand Labs specializes in Volusion store integration such as design, SEO and other custom marketing services. They did a fantastic job integrating the look and feel with the rest of our store along with keeping the reader's experience in mind. We hope you like it as well!

Glenstone Lodge Sees Instant Results With Xerox Update

2009-05-07T22:12:00.004-04:00

Glenstone Lodge, a 25 year old staple for vacation goers in Gatlinburg, TN recently updated their office fleet with Hungate Business Services, Xerox provider of products and services in Sevier County. Ursula House, General Manager at the Glenstone stated that their “antiquated equipment was not meeting their daily requirements anymore”, and hoped to “achieve a cost reduction and improved office productivity with their update.” After an extensive evaluation of multiple vendors’ equipment and lease parameters, she selected Xerox’s offering. “Hungate was able to show us a cost savings with friendly lease terms and equipment to do the job.” The solutions included the Xerox WorkCentre 5030, Phaser 3635MFP/X, FaxCentre 2121 and Phaser 4510/N for their requirements.

Ratings of the solution have been positive by the staff and administration. “Everything has been great - from the improved quality, cost savings and added features it’s been a good move for us”, says Ursula. “We especially like the walk-up printing from our USB drives on the Phaser 3635MFP.” “It wasn’t a focal point during evaluation but it’s been great for our Reservations staff to help our guests print out their documents quickly and easily”. Overall, “Hungate Business Services has done a great job for us and we look forward to working with them.”

Get $15 In Gas When You Buy Two HP Cartridges

2009-04-02T15:09:00.003-04:00

It's back! Now through April 15th, or while supplies last, any customer who buys any two HP LaserJet toner cartridges will receive a $15 American Express Fill-it-Up Gas Card. All gas cards from this promotion must be redeemed by April 3oth, 2009.

This offer is valid only while supplies last. All HP LaserJet toner cartridges are eligible. Dual packs are eligible, but only count as one cartridge i.e. one gas card per dual pack.

Tired of the Post Office?

2009-03-25T18:01:00.004-04:00

Zumbox delivers your mail online, and even allows businesses to send correspondence much cheaper than conventional methods. Check out the FAQ's for more information. Fantastic idea!

Low Cost Color Printing Plans Introduced by Xerox (Quietly)

2009-03-25T17:56:00.005-04:00

Xerox recently introduced a 3-Tiered cost per copy plan (CPC) for the Phaser 8860 family of devices without much press. However, these are the first of its kind at Xerox and may signal the future direction of the copier & multifunction industry. Products included in this plan are the Phaser 8860 Color Printer and the Phaser 8860MFP.

Here are details on the non-traditional service plans; all costs per page include on-site maintenance, ink and other consumables:

1. .0169 per page - "Useful Color", mostly black and white pages with a splash of color, like a company logo
2. .039 per page - "Everyday Color", pages with one or two small color pictures and text
3. .079 per page - "Expressive Color", pages with full color

According to Xerox, they have found that most office color documents are typically in the "Useful" or "Everyday" categories, and with the Phaser 8860 family of products it will give customers even more flexibility when they go to purchase their office equipment. The Phaser 8860 Printer retails $2,499 and the MFP for $3,999 - leasing plans are also available. This offering is only available through Authorized Xerox Sales Agents for customers in the U.S.

hbsx.com Homepage Refresh

2009-02-22T18:56:00.008-05:00

Hungate Business Services recently updated their homepage with a fresh new look this week. The design was facilitated by Jeremy Mitchell, with creative support from Kathy Mitchell. The flash animation incorporates promotions on the Xerox Phaser 8560 solid ink printer, and a free shipping promotion into the existing header template.

Xerox Phaser 6180 Out - Xerox Phaser 6280 In

2009-02-13T09:30:00.012-05:00

With the recent introduction of the $350 instant rebate on the Xerox Phaser 6180, the stock has been depleted nationally in the U.S. New orders will no longer be fulfilled through local resellers or Dealers, unless they have them already in stock. Phaser 6180 supplies and consumables are still available for purchase.

The replacement for the 6180 is the Xerox Phaser 6280 which is on sale now even before its "formal" launch on February 23rd, 2009. The Phaser 6280 boasts an impressive 30% increase in Color speed (26ppm) and 19% increase in B&W output (31ppm) over it's predecessor. Retailing at $549 it's a fantastic buy for lower volume users needing high quality Color. The Phaser 6280 comes with networking standard, a one year warranty and compatibility with PC, Mac and Linux. The Xerox Phaser 6280DN configuration comes with two sided printing standard and retails for $649.

Make Up To $250 For Trading In Your Old Printer

2009-02-06T16:12:00.003-05:00

This quarter Xerox and Hungate Business Services is offering a rebate of $50 for Phaser 8560's, $50 on Phaser 6360's and $250 on Phaser 7760 products purchased between January 1 - March 31, 2009 with an eligible trade-in. Xerox will even pay shipping on your eligible trade-in. You must submit your claim within (30) days of eligible purchase or by April 30, 2009, whichever is sooner.

Customers may trade-in and purchase a maximum of 5 printers per customer during the promotion period. If you wish to trade more than 5 units, please contact Hungate Business Services at info@hbsx.com for more information.

Want to Cut Office Costs? Follow Your Print Button.

2009-02-01T20:19:00.010-05:00

Depending on the amount of paper documents that your business goes through, and what type of equipment they are printed on, it may be surprising how much those documents actually cost to produce. Desktop Printers are the biggest culprit, and can cost substantially more (20-80%) to operate than multifunction equipment. The main reason for this is that the output from printers have a variable cost, versus a fixed cost off of multifunction copiers. The standard yield on supplies for printers that you see advertised from major equipment manufacturers are based on 5% coverage. In reality most documents printed have coverage that is much higher, around 15-20%. HP and Xerox provide good information on how much things will cost on their network printers, but they certainly don’t put it on their homepage.

How can you tell how much you’re spending? In short, get help – free help. Most local copier vendors now are armed with software and a slick USB tool (PrintAudit and PrintFleet are common names you can ask for) that can really help you get a clear overview of your office peripherals. They have incentive to give you a no cost quantitative analysis in the event they can provide a more cost effective solution. You can run a quick network scan and it will download your vital equipment information including make, model, serial and print counts. Repeat the process in 30 day increments until you feel that accurate volumes have been recorded, and then rely on your vendor to give you total costs of operation on all of your devices.

(Sample Print Audit Report)

You’ll be surprised what you find; you might even find a printer or two than you didn’t even know about. Once the data is collected, it might be advantageous to your organization to redirect larger print jobs to more cost effective multifunction devices, or possibly even replace printers with a fixed cost device.

i-Phone “Push” Not Working? Check Your Exchange Server Certificates

2008-12-14T17:42:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago we noticed that our i-Phone users were not able to get their e-mail via the “push” methodology; instead they had to manually download their e-mail like they did before the 2.0 update. It left us scratching our heads a bit because it had worked seamlessly just a few weeks prior, and we had not done anything of significance with our network.

We noticed that whenever a user went to the i-Phone mail folder, they would receive a “Certificate Invalid” notice, however since the device would still manually download e-mail we didn’t give it much thought. After some trial and error on many different fronts that included reloading e-mail accounts on the i-Phones, restarting Services (and Reboot) on the Exchange Server 2003 we turned our attention back to the “Certificate Invalid” notice. Simple enough, we found that a Certificate had expired on the Exchange side, and the suspicions mounted of this being the culprit.

After interpolating a nice article on how to create a certificate, we set out to renew the Certificate that had expired. To do so, we went to IIS Manager > Web Sites > (right click) Default Websites, then Properties > Directory Security Tab > Server Certificate. After selecting the Server Certificate button, we followed the Wizard to renew the Certificate which was simple and straightforward. Once it was renewed, our problem was solved immediately and the “push” e-mail began to flow.