SMART Technologies Leads the Education Sector in Interactive Flat Panel Displays in the United States

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.

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SOURCE SMART Technologies Inc.

Jeff Lowe, 403-407-5330, VP of Marketing, SMART Technologies Inc., [email protected]