MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.,
April 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/
-- Based on its recent analysis of the interactive flat panels
(IFPs) market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes SMART Technologies
with the 2016 North America Frost & Sullivan Award for Product
Line Strategy Leadership. SMART Technologies' unique integrated
software and hardware, purpose-built for education, is driving
in-class interactivity and student engagement to new levels. Its
ground-breaking, expanded line of interactive flat panels (IFP) for
K-12 education, now used in millions of classrooms all over the
world, was designed to facilitate natural collaboration in the
classroom.
The company offers 11 models of SMART Board® IFPs,
ranging in size from 55 inches to 84 inches. The entire SMART Board
IFP line comprises of commercial-grade panels for 50,000 hours of
use, along with Silktouch™ technology, an accurate and responsive
touch feature that easily recognizes up to ten touch points on the
4000 series and four on the 6000 series.
The SMART Board 6000 series line includes Object awareness™,
which automatically detects a finger, pen, fist, or eraser; and Pen
ID™, which allows two students to work independently using
different colors for any joint lesson activity. All SMART 6000
series IFPs boast 4K Ultra HD resolution for best-in-class image
quality. Meanwhile, SMART kapp iQ™ links the board and mobile
devices of teachers and students for collaboration at multiple
levels.
"The Bring Your Own Device Mega Trend will have a significant
influence on education," observes Frost & Sullivan Industry
Manager, Aravindh Vanchesan. "SMART
Technologies is leveraging this trend with the Chrome™ Operating
System integration, as well as easy integration of other devices
that students may use, including tablets, smartphones, and
laptops."
SMART Technologies IFPs include a license for SMART Learning
Suite software, which includes SMART Notebook®, SMART
lab™, SMART response® 2 and access to SMART amp™. SMART
Notebook enables full-class collaboration for engaging lessons,
while SMART lab gives teachers the means to quickly build
game-based activities that amaze and engage students. SMART
response 2 is assessment software that allows teachers to create
quick and effective formative assessments. SMART amp leverages
student devices and Google Apps for Education taking co-creation
and collaboration to the next level.
SMART Technologies handles its distribution through specialized
local and regional educational channels—developed through long-term
relationships with educational departments across the globe.
Importantly, all SMART Learning Suite software is included in an
easy-to-purchase bundle, licensed at the teacher level for a low
annual fee.
"The company's technology licensing and solutions are
categorized into school, district, and teacher use—with set prices
for transparency. It adds value to purchases by including the SMART
Learning Suite software and additional training and community
resources on its Website," noted Vanchesan. "The Tools for Teachers
section includes the SMART Technologies blog on education, sample
lesson plans, a forum community for questions, and training modules
on SMART Technologies' products."
SMART Technologies' license renewals rates of approximately 85
percent indicate high customer loyalty. As one of the top education
technology companies with more than 150 million users in 30 million
classrooms, SMART Technologies takes great care to constantly
update its software in line with industry standards and trends.
From inventing the interactive whiteboard in 1991 to enhancing
the classroom experience, the company continues to stay ahead of
the technology curve. Therefore, for its strong and naturally
collaborative products for the IFP market, Frost & Sullivan
presents SMART Technologies with the 2016 North American Product
Line Strategy Award.
Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the
company that has developed a comprehensive product line that caters
to the breadth of the market it serves. The award recognizes the
extent to which the product line meets customer base demands, the
overall impact it has in terms of customer value, as well as
increased market share.
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies
in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating
outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as
leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and
strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market
participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews,
analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best
practices in the industry.
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.
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P: +44 (0) 207.343.8314
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E: chiara.carella@frost.com
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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan