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. The print service, using a protocol, 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.