Data from Futuresource Consulting Ltd.
Corresponds with Overall Momentum Towards IFP Adoption in
the United States
CALGARY, April 14, 2016 /CNW/ - SMART Technologies Inc.
(NASDAQ: SMT) (TSX: SMA), a leading provider of collaboration
solutions, is the market leader in the education category for
Interactive Flat Panel displays (IFPs) in the United States according to data from
Futuresource Consulting Ltd., an independent global research
company that has tracked interactive display shipments since 2002.
Based on Futuresource data for IFP shipments into the United States in 2015, SMART holds 39
percent share in education – the highest share of any single IFP
provider that is tracked by Futuresource.
SMART's market position as a leader in IFPs sold to the
education sector in the United
States coincides with internal company data that shows an
increasing number of its education customers are upgrading from
projector-based interactive whiteboards to IFPs. The migration to
IFPs, which look like a flat-screen television and do not require a
projector, is part of an increasing, nationwide trend. According to
Futuresource, 11 percent of all interactive displays shipped into
U.S. education in 2014 were interactive flat panels. That has more
than tripled to 34 percent in 2015.
Educators from Georgia to
Alaska are choosing SMART IFPs
because they offer a premier user experience, allowing teachers and
students to interact with content in ways that are natural to them.
Available in a number of sizes, SMART IFPs represent a
comprehensive range of touch-enabled, Ultra HD and HD LED displays
to accommodate any collaborative learning space.
While more U.S. school districts are choosing IFPs, the U.S.
actually remains behind some countries in Western Europe and Asia when it comes to adopting the latest
technology. According to Futuresource, well over half of the
interactive displays shipped into education globally in Q4 of
calendar year 2015 were IFPs. And in the U.K., 86 percent of
interactive display shipments into education in Q4 2015 were IFPs.
Futuresource is forecasting the U.S. will catch up by 2020 when 88
percent of interactive displays shipped into U.S. education will be
IFPs. This poses an enormous market opportunity as more education
decision makers turn to IFPs thanks to software versatility and
total cost of ownership overall.
"Our interactive flat panels are designed with collaboration in
mind," said Neil Gaydon, president
and CEO SMART Technologies. "Easy and intuitive with
walk-up-and-use features and SMART's proprietary software suite
bundled in, our IFPs empower natural collaboration. With the added
factor of a lower total cost of ownership, SMART IFPs represent an
ideal tool for today's educators," he said.
For more information on SMART IFPs, visit
http://home.smarttech.com/en
About SMART Technologies Inc.
SMART Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SMT, TSX: SMA) is a world leader
in simple and intuitive solutions that enable more natural
collaboration. We are an innovator in interactive touch
technologies and software that inspire collaboration in both
education and businesses around the globe. To learn more,
visit smarttech.com.
Reader's advisory
Certain information contained in
this press release may constitute forward-looking information or
statements, including without limitation statements regarding the
enormous market opportunity in IFPs and future IFP adoption rates
in the U.S.. By their very nature, forward-looking information and
statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general
and specific, and risks that predictions, forecasts, projections
and other forward-looking information and statements will not be
achieved. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these
statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual
results to vary materially from the forward-looking information or
statements. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy and
completeness of the forward-looking information or statements. Any
forward-looking information and statements contained in this press
release are expressly qualified by this cautionary
statement.
©2016 SMART Technologies. All third-party product and
company names are for identification purposes only and may be
trademarks of their respective owners. To view a list of SMART
trademarks please visit our Trademarks and Guidelines
page.
Please note that SMART is written in all capital
letters.
SOURCE SMART Technologies Inc.