Kinko’s Opens High-Tech Ventura ‘Branch Office’

Kinko’s Service Corp., whose worldwide headquarters is in Ventura, has launched its high-tech “your branch office” drive at a newly opened store on that city’s Main Street. The store will be one of the first in the chain to offer video-conferencing and conference rooms that can be rented by the hour.

The first phase of the video-conferencing system will become operational in April. “Our goal is to have the system available in 100 stores by then,” spokeswoman Tammy Gentry said, adding that the new store will be used as a pilot for a number of other technological advances.

Through an arrangement with Sprint Corp., customers will be able to meet face-to-face with people in other Kinko’s stores and in 3,000 other locations in 38 countries.