HP and Nokia link up paper and digital worlds

HP and Nokia have sealed a alliance that aims to link paper and digital information through the development of paper-to-mobile workflow technology that can process paper forms and distribute the data to mobile workers.

Dubbed the Mobile Forms Initiative, the scheme allows users to create forms, collect the data via a mobile device and transmit it to an enterprise's IT infrastructure, where the data can be saved, shared and printed.

The partnership centres on combining HP's print-on-demand technology and Forms Automation Solution with Nokia's mobile devices and Digital Pen offerings.

"HP's vision is to make paper processes smarter by bridging the gap between today's paper and digital worlds," said Eric Chaniot, vice president and general manager at HP's Digital Pen and Paper Organisation."

The jointly developed technology will target organisations and companies requiring real-time data transfers, including health care, insurance, public safety and field services.