Printer manufacturer, Canon Australia, has launched what the company claims is the first web browser to be designed to run on multifunction devices.

The software is designed to enable the use of Canon multifunction devices (MFDs) as "information kiosks" that access and print information directly from an intranet or the Internet. The system is targeted at organisations that have a significant number of staff who do not have access to PCs but who need to access forms, documents or information on the company intranet, such as in retail, logistics or manufacturing industries.

The new web-based Canon system is also aimed at universities, libraries and organisations where important documents are regularly updated on an intranet but where access to PCs may not always be available. As employees can access the company intranet direct from the device, frequently accessed documents like leave forms, contracts, maps and manuals can be printed immediately at the MFD.

Loaded on a Canon imageRUNNER MFD, the web aAccess software kit enables users to call up an intranet or the Internet on the full-size colour LCD panel so they can print forms, documents or pages directly. The browser interface includes storage of up to 100 favourite addresses similar to that of a standard browser.

Based on the NetFront browser for PDAs, the Web Access Software Kit also lets users download and print PDF files directly through Adobe Acrobat Reader. When browsing web pages that use dialogue boxes or pop-up fields that require data entry from users, they can enter information using the number keypad or QWERTY keyboard on the same colour LCD panel.

The Web Access Software Kit has a number of security features that can be enabled to control usage. Users can select whether to use SSL (Secure Socket Layer) settings for certificates, and can specify settings for the cache and cookies so they can be erased. IT managers also have the ability to restrict access to certain URLs as required.