HP’s New Multifunction Printer Comes with a Wi-Fi Hotspot Feature

Posted by John C Arkin on December 14th, 2012

If you think you’ve seen everything an all-in-one printer can offer, think again, because HP unveils a new multifunction device that can also serve as a hot spot, on top of offering the usual fanfare — print, copy, scan, and fax.

The HP Hotspot LaserJet Pro M1218nfs MFP allows up to eight people to wirelessly connect their mobile devices to the Internet. It features several options for printing wirelessly, including Apple AirPrint, HP ePrint, and HP wireless direct.

The printer is designed with a sophisticated all black matte-finished exterior and has a small footprint which makes it ideal for small to mid-sized offices, as well as home office. On the left side of the unit is a foldable control panel with a 2.5-inch dot-matrix monochrome display.

“The HP Hotspot is a new All-in-One+1 printer that completely redefines the role a multifunction printer can play in a SOHO or small business environment,” Nitin Hiranandani, director of printing for HP India, said in a statement.

Although the printer is only available in India and China for now, an HP representative told CNET the printer will also be released in the U.S. and other countries — though no further details on the launch date were provided.

The HP Hotspot LaserJet Pro M1218nfs costs 18,306 rupees ($330).