CALGARY, Alberta and LONG BEACH, Calif., Sept. 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Educators now have more options for delivering lessons with interactive capabilities for effective learning. SMART Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:SMT) (TSX:SMA), a leading provider of collaboration solutions, and Epson, the number-one selling projector brand worldwide1, today announced an agreement where SMART Notebook software, the world's leading collaborative learning software, can now be licensed for use with Epson BrightLink interactive projectors. The addition of SMART software to Epson interactive projectors provides a potent combination for collaborative learning.
This is the first time that SMART has granted distribution rights for its proprietary collaborative learning software to a third party hardware manufacturer and is part of the company's software accessibility strategy. "With our ongoing commitment to educational software, including developments for both desktop and cloud-based options, we are enabling more effective learning anywhere, anytime on any device both inside and outside the classroom," says Greg Estell, President, Education for SMART Technologies. "SMART's strategy is to make the world's most popular collaborative learning software available to more schools, teachers and students around the world and we are excited to be working with Epson, and its leading line of projectors, as a step towards realizing this goal."
"This collaboration underscores Epson's commitment to delivering world-class technology tools to teachers that will enhance and transform the education process," said Keith Kratzberg, Senior Vice President, Epson America, Inc. "The combination of SMART Notebook software and Epson BrightLink, the top selling line of interactive projectors in the world1, provides educators with the flexibility to create high-impact lessons that bring learning to life."
Under this new arrangement, Epson will sell SMART Notebook software through its reseller network, either when purchased with an Epson BrightLink interactive projector or for existing BrightLink customers, allowing educators to easily select the industry-leading collaborative learning software. Both Epson and SMART will provide customer support for their respective products, giving educators full confidence as they bring more interactivity into classrooms and other learning spaces.
Availability
Shipments of Epson interactive projectors with SMART Notebook software licenses will commence on Oct. 1, 2013 in North, Central and South America, with other global regions expected by the end of the year. SMART Notebook software licenses will be available for existing Epson customers through Epson and SMART resellers. For additional information, visit www.epson.com/education.
About SMART Notebook Software
Award-winning SMART Notebook software allows educators to bring relevant and customizable content to their lessons, while its wide selection of intuitive tools and features help to quickly and easily create and deliver lessons that are engaging and impactful. Supported by the SMART Exchange™ website, teachers can find resources, share lesson material and exchange tips and success stories about using SMART products in the classroom. With over 65,000 digital resources available in 23 languages, teachers have access to images, videos, and pre-created SMART Notebook files and lesson activities correlated to curriculum standards.
About Epson BrightLink Interactive Projectors
The award-winning Epson BrightLink line of short-throw and ultra short-throw interactive projectors offers advanced connectivity options to project onto any existing whiteboard, wall or other smooth, light-colored, hard surface. BrightLink interactive projectors offer dual pen support and built-in annotation technology that allows teachers and students to instantly interact directly with a projected image from a variety of sources beyond the PC, including tablets, smart phones, document cameras, Blu-ray players, VCRs, and more. The cost-effective BrightLink models deliver a large interactive learning area with variable image sizes from 53 to 116-inches diagonal (WXGA), depending on model, and include HDMI connectivity.
About SMART
SMART Technologies Inc. is a leading provider of technology solutions that enable inspired collaboration in schools and workplaces around the world by turning group work into a highly interactive, engaging and productive experience. SMART delivers integrated solutions of hardware, software and services designed for superior performance and ease of use, and remains a world leader in interactive displays.
About Epson
Epson is a global innovation leader whose product lineup ranges from inkjet printers and printing systems, 3LCD projectors and industrial robots to sensors and other microdevices. Dedicated to exceeding the vision of its customers worldwide, Epson delivers customer value based on compact, energy-saving, and high-precision technologies in markets spanning enterprise and the home to commerce and industry.
Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 68,000 employees in 96 companies around the world, and is proud of its ongoing contributions to the global environment and the communities in which it operates. Epson America, Inc. based in Long Beach, Calif. is Epson's regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: www.Epson.com.
You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/EpsonAmerica), Twitter (http://twitter.com/EpsonAmerica and http://twitter.com/EpsonEducation) and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/EpsonTV).
Reader's advisory
Certain information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking information or statements. 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.
1 Based upon Q2 2013 worldwide front projection market share estimates from PMA Research.
©2013 SMART Technologies ULC. All rights reserved. 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.
Note: EPSON is a registered trademark and EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. BrightLink is a registered trademark of Epson America, Inc. All other product brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks.