Google Cloud Print To Shut Down By End Of 2020

Google said that its Cloud Print is shutting down operations by the end of 2020. The users are hereby requested to either switch to the native printing or other alternative solutions. To recall, the Cloud Print is Google's cloud-based printing solution that was rolled out as a beta update since 2010.

The users won't have to worry about this immediate call off, as Google has greatly updated its native printing solution for the Chrome OS. And, even in the future, it will keep on adding more new features to its native printing.

These features are either currently part of Chrome or will be supported by Google by the end of 2019. The features are-- (a) Admin console interface for controlling multiples of CUPS-based printers for users, devices and managed guests by organizational unit.
(b) Admin console policy to control user printing defaults for 2-sided and color.
(c) Supporting advanced printing attributes.
(d) Admin console policy to add user account and filename in IPP header of print job over a secure IPPS connection, which lets third-party printing features such as secure printing and print-usage tracking.
(e) Admin console policy to manage PIN code printing, letting users enter pin code when sending the print job, and release the print job for printing when they enter the pin code into the printer keypad.

Below are some print management features that are being developed for Chrome and these will be available before shutting down of Cloud Print.
(a) Support for external CUPS print servers.
(b) Guidelines to setup connections to external CUPS print servers.
(c) APIs for third-parties to access print job metadata, and submit print jobs and printer management capabilities.