SMART leads in the UK with nearly 50 percent of interactive whiteboard market
Independent research confirms third-quarter standing
CALGARY – November 22, 2004 – SMART Technologies Inc. announces that, according to Decision Tree Consulting (DTC), an independent market research firm based in the UK, SMART had 49.6 percent of total interactive whiteboard sales in the UK for the third quarter of 2004, more than any other manufacturer and nearly 16 percent ahead of its closest competitor. SMART led in all screen-size markets, with 80 percent of the 50" (127-cm) interactive whiteboard market, 66 percent of the 60" (152.4-cm) interactive whiteboard market and 42 percent of the interactive whiteboard market for screen sizes larger than 70" (177.8 cm). DTC has reported SMART as the UK market leader in every quarter since it began publishing its interactive whiteboard market report in 2001.
SMART is also the global market leader in interactive whiteboards, with more than 200,000 SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards installed in more than 75 countries as of June 2004. Its leadership comes from developing products that incorporate customer input and that are intuitive and easy to use. With SMART Board interactive whiteboards, users can write over any application using either a pen from the SMART Pen Tray or their finger once a pen is selected - no special tools are required. Customers can also download the latest version of SMART Board software at no cost, giving them ongoing access to new features.
“Leadership comes from keeping a sharp focus on the link between innovation and customer needs,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART's president and co-CEO. “Our goal has always been to develop products and services that meet our customers' needs, and customers have demonstrated their support for that approach by choosing SMART products time after time.”
About SMART Board interactive whiteboards
The SMART Board interactive whiteboard is the world's leading interactive whiteboard. Simply by touching the large display, users can access and control any computer application or multimedia platform, including the Internet, CD-ROMs and DVDs. With SMART Board software, users can write over applications in digital ink and then edit, save, print or post their notes to a website for future reference. SMART Board interactive whiteboards are used in classrooms, briefing rooms and boardrooms around the world, helping people to collaborate effectively whether they are in the same room or in another location. For more information, visit http://www.smarttech.com/smartboard.
###
For more information, contact:
Public Relations
SMART Technologies Inc.
Suite 300, 1207 11th Ave SW
Calgary, AB CANADA T3C 0M5
Phone +1.403.802.2552 Fax +1.403.228.2500
pr@smarttech.com
www.smarttech.com
Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.