Hewlett-Packard on Monday launched an application that allows users to print pictures wirelessly from an iPhone.
The free application, HP iPrint Photo (App Store link), allows pictures stored on an iPhone to be printed using certain HP’s inkjet printers attached to a Wi-Fi network.
Users launch the application on an iPhone, select a photo by touching it, and then the app sends a print command to the inkjet printer over a Wi-Fi network. The software also runs on the iPod touch.
Currently, the software works only with 4-by-6-inch (10-by-15-centimeter) photo prints and resizes images accordingly.
HP says the software is a better way for users to print from the thousands of images stored on their iPhones. The application works with Apple’s Bonjour networking technology to help identify HP wireless printers on the network.
Currently, you can print only JPEG images using the application—it doesn’t support any other image or documents formats for now, HP said. The printing may also be cancelled if a user receives a call or a text message on the iPhone.
HP iPrint Photo is only compatible with wireless HP inkjet printers or other HP network inkjets connected to a Wi-Fi network, an HP spokeswoman said. “Currently we cannot comment on future plans to expand the compatibility,” she said.
Additional features and functionality will be decided with future versions of the software, the spokeswoman said.
The technology will be on display at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and Macworld Expo, both of which will be held next month.