Google Cloud Print
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Google Cloud Print was a Google service that allowed users to print from any Cloud Print-aware application (web, desktop, mobile) on any device in the network cloud to any printer with native support for connecting to cloud print services – without Google having to create and maintain printing subsystems for all the hardware combinations of client devices and printers, and without the users having to install device drivers to the client, but with documents being fully transmitted to Google. Starting on July 23, 2013 it allowed printing from any Windows application, if Google Cloud Printer was installed on the machine. Google Cloud Print was shut down on December 31, 2020.
Google Cloud Print was a Google service that allowed users to print from any Cloud Print-aware application (web, desktop, mobile) on any device in the network cloud to any printer with native support for connecting to cloud print services – without Google having to create and maintain printing subsystems for all the hardware combinations of client devices and printers, and without the users having to install device drivers to the client, but with documents being fully transmitted to Google. Starting on July 23, 2013 it allowed printing from any Windows application, if Google Cloud Printer was installed on the machine. Google Cloud Print was shut down on December 31, 2020.
Integration with other Google products
Google Cloud Print was integrated into the mobile versions of Gmail and Google Docs, allowing users to print from their mobile devices. Google Chrome 16 and higher listed Google Cloud Print a printer option in the Print Preview page. Google Chrome 9 and higher supported printers without built-in Cloud Print component through a "Cloud Print Connector".
Discontinuation
In November 2019, Google announced end of support for Google Cloud Print on December 31, 2020. Google cited improvements in native ChromeOS printing as well as a marketplace of other print solutions providers in its decision to terminate the service.
Privacy
Documents printed via Google Cloud Print were sent to Google's servers for transmission to the printer. Google stated that they stored each document queued for printing, "but only for so long as the printing job is active and not complete". And: "Documents you send to print are your personal information and are kept strictly confidential. Google does not access the documents you print for any purpose other than to improve printing."
References
Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1355263880 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.