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Rendezvous enables network devices, such as printers and Macs, to automatically broadcast and discover what services each is offering for the use of others. As a result, Rendezvous-enabled devices no longer have to be configured by the user or system administrator before they can be recognised and used on a network.

Although this Brother printer is the first, many other Rendezvous devices are expected soon, from the likes of

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Canon and HP. The technology can also be deployed in software. Apple's Safari iChat already employ it, while leading Mac game developer Aspyr has said that all its future networked games will use Rendezvous to simplify the setting up of multi-player games.

Chris Hinds, printer product manager for Brother UK, said, 'This is a truly revolutionary technology, it enables seamless LAN integration without the need for timely configuration. For the first time, "device-to-device" interaction is possible for Mac users, enabling automatic configuration with a wide range of "smart" devices. In the future this could potentially include anything from televisions to media servers, this is why we have chosen to offer Rendezvous with our latest printer.'

The Brother HL-5070N will be available in April 2003 for about £379 (£445 including VAT).

Brother has also revamped its printer naming conventions. From April its printer range will be categorised as follows: HL-5000 - personal printers; HL-6000 - small workgroup printers; HL-7000 - workgroup printers; and HL-8000 - departmental printers.