Orange County Register

If you’ve always wondered why you can’t easily share a printer between multiple computers and never bothered to find out (you need a print server, a piece of hardware), it now is, apparently, that easy.

D-Link has integrated USB over TCP/IP technology into some of its routers so USB devices can be shared on a home network. The Fountain Valley company calls its technology SharePort and it’s a free software download for owners of its series of Xtreme N Gigabit Routers.

Just plug a printer, multi-function printer, external hard drive, scanner, etc. and anyone on the home computer network can use the device.

Explains Dan Kelley, D-Link’s senior director of marketing:

“This is different than building a print server into the router, as it uses a new technology called USB over TCP/IP that can support virtually any USB device. With the print server approach, you need to build drivers for printers directly into the unit, which can be difficult and a main reason we waited to get this new technology in place. It is nice to be able to go back to the thousands of existing customers and offer this free upgrade as this was one question we repeatedly received on our routers as to ‘Why can’t I use that USB port for storage or printers’.”

The upgrade applies to D-Link models DIR-655, DIR-825, DIR-855 and DGL-4500 Gaming Router with GameFuel. The SharePort technology upgrade is also available on the RangeBooster N DIR-628. Just visit D-Link’s upgrade page online.

This news coincides with a new D-Link router, announced today. The Xtreme N Dual Band Gigabit Router (DIR-825), which also has SharePort, is $199.99.

Previous:

• Western Digital adds build-your-own storage
• U-Verse customers get free upgrade to sharable DVR
• OC gets a new cable Internet company
• An ‘Apple Store’ for the airline industry
• Google phone launches for $179
• Digital TV discounts still available
• DSL down to $10/month

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