Print by reference service method

A print service, preferably realized as a web site or part of web site, supports print by reference operations. Software hosted or accessible by the web site performs the required functions. A print client may be a print device, for example, that has an Internet connection. A print client might also be a portable wireless device, for example, which then might transfer data transcoded by the print service to a print device. The print service accepts a reference to print content, resolves the reference, obtains the print content, transcodes the print content into a print device ready format, and allows the print client access to the transcoded print data. The print service method realized by such a web site provides commercial potential for web services and content provider partnerships, as a preferred use of the print service might commence with a user of a portable wireless device obtaining a reference to print content while web surfing, communicating that content, for example via a Bluetooth wireless connection to the print device, which then uses the print service to resolve and process the print by reference communication. Similar commercial potential is possible with respect to print device manufacturers and the manufacturers of portable wireless devices, such as personal digital assistant (PDA) devices.