Canon has unveiled a small USB scanner that it claims offers the fastest scans per minute speed currently available from any portable device in its class.
The imageFORMULA P-150 can deliver 15ppm, which the company claimed is twice as fast as its closest competitor.
The compact device, aimed at mobile executives, is USB powered and its software is located on integrated memory, which auto loads when plugged into any Windows PC. It can therefore be used easily when on the road and on any compatible Windows computer.
Paper is placed onto the automatic document feeder that opens up at the top to accommodate 20 sheets of paper.
Trevor Dodsworth, head of marketing for business products, said its appeal was that is was no heavier than a bag of sugar.
Also unveiled was the Canon DR2020U, a 20 pages per minute capable office scanner with an business card feeder built into the side. This is capable of feeding through up to 15 business cards in once go. 50 A4 sheets can placed in the Automatic Document Feeder on top, while there's a flatbed scanner available too.
Canon has also released its first business scanners aimed at the Mac market - the imageFORMULA DR-2010M and DR-2510M.
At a briefing with IT PRO, Dodsworth said that there was still growth in the scanner market and that personal desk-based devices had largely taken over from large scale centralised systems.
"The dynamics have changed," he said. "Scanning has become much more front office orientated - it's no longer a back office function."
Dodsworth also said that Canon's market share for personal business scanners had increased from 13 per cent in 2007 to 25 per cent in the first half of 2009.
