SMART Technologies Inc. Releases Industry-Leading Software in 18 Languages
Focus on customer needs worldwide drives free upgrade of multilanguage SMART Board™ software
Calgary, AB – October 15, 2003 – SMART Technologies Inc. announces version 8.1 of SMART Board software in 18 languages. The award-winning software, which works with the family of SMART Board interactive whiteboards and Sympodium™ lecterns, will be available in early November 2003. The software will be available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Chinese Traditional, Chinese Simplified, Korean, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Welsh, Russian and Arabic.
The development of the new version of SMART Board software has been driven by the worldwide growth in the sales of SMART Board interactive whiteboards and the needs of SMART customers in various countries. SMART Board software version 8.1 offers six more languages than its previous multilanguage version, giving users at least twice as many languages to work with as any competing product. SMART Board software is also the first interactive whiteboard software to offer cross-platform compatibility in English for Microsoft® Windows®, Macintosh, UNIX® and Linux® operating systems. Notebook™ software, included in the SMART Board software suite, features a new XML-based, cross-platform file format (XBK), which means that files created on one operating system can be accessed on another.
“As the worldwide market leader in interactive whiteboards, we continue to lead the way, offering our customers the latest functions in their own language,” says Nancy Knowlton, president and co-CEO of SMART. “Customers in 65 countries already recognize the value that our products bring to collaboration, whether in the same room or at a distance.“
Latest features of SMART Board software
SMART Board software for Windows operating systems includes the Gallery, a unique new image-management system with an intuitive interface. It is the only interactive whiteboard software to offer a tool that groups templates with associated images. For instance, a graph paper template for math is accompanied by a set of related images such as protractors and rulers. This approach to image management is especially useful for teachers and presenters who require impromptu access to files during presentations, because there is no need to launch separate libraries for images and templates. The Gallery can also be easily customized to include users’ own templates and images.
Notebook software also has a new side sorter that can be expanded to show more thumbnails than in previous versions and can be switched to the right or left side of the screen, depending on users' preferences. Objects can be easily rotated or made transparent.
In addition, SMART Board software includes the Screen Shade and the Spotlight, which enable users to unveil or highlight selected areas of their screen. Hyperlinks can be connected to images and text, and rich text editing makes it possible to edit text selectively.
Pricing and Availability
SMART Board software in 18 languages for Windows operating systems will be available in early November 2003 as a free download to SMART customers at www.smarttech.com/support/software. SMART Board software also ships with all SMART Board interactive whiteboards and Sympodium interactive lecterns.
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For more information, please contact:
Public Relations
SMART Technologies Inc.
300, 1207 - 11th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB CANADA T3C 0M5
Phone +1.403.802.3337 Fax +1.403.228.2500
pr@smarttech.com
Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.