LONG BEACH, Calif.,
Nov. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- It
is now easier than ever for educators to obtain the world's leading
collaborative learning software along with market leading
collaborative displays. Epson, the number-one projector
manufacturer in the world1, and SMART Technologies Inc.
(NASDAQ: SMT) (TSX: SMA), a leading global provider of
collaboration solutions, today announced an agreement where SMART
Notebook® collaborative learning software will now be
included with Epson BrightLink® interactive projectors
worldwide. The addition of SMART Notebook software to Epson
interactive projectors provides a potent combination for
collaborative learning.
"We're delighted to extend the reach of our longstanding
partnership with Epson to a global offering," said Greg Estell, Solutions President, SMART
Technologies. "SMART Notebook allows educators to easily create
engaging, interactive learning in a way that's natural to both
teachers and students, and now they can do so on any Epson
BrightLink projector."
"Educators are seeking the best hardware and software solutions
to help them teach effectively, and to drive student engagement and
learning outcomes," said Keith
Kratzberg, Senior Vice President, Epson America, Inc. "This partnership speaks
directly to the needs of teachers to create engaging, impactful and
fun lessons, as well as to respond to the needs of learners in
real-time. By bringing together these leading interactive classroom
technologies, we are providing the tools to meet those needs."
Building upon the already established software relationship
between the two companies that has enabled Epson to sell SMART
Notebook software along with its interactive projectors in certain
global markets since 2013, the new agreement allows Epson to bundle
SMART Notebook software, including a SMART Notebook Advantage
subscription during the first year, with Epson BrightLink
interactive projectors as a standard offering on a worldwide basis.
The SMART Notebook Advantage subscription lets customers upgrade to
new versions of Notebook software in that first year, as well as
access technical support and unlock premium features within
Notebook.
This winning combination allows educators around the world to
use the number-one selling interactive projector1 with
collaborative learning software to create visually compelling,
engaging and interactive learning experiences. Epson's complete
BrightLink interactive projector line is tested and fully
authorized by SMART for use with SMART Notebook software, and SMART
Notebook fully supports BrightLink interactive features such as
dual pen and finger-touch. Both Epson and SMART will provide
customer support and training for their respective products, giving
educators full confidence as they bring more collaboration into
classrooms and other learning spaces.
Availability
Epson BrightLink interactive projectors
with SMART Notebook software entitlements will begin shipping in
North America in November 2015 and throughout other regions of the
world in early 2016. For additional information, visit
www.epson.com/brightlink.
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 PC-free annotation with a
range of devices including document cameras, DVD and Blue-ray
players as well as tablets and mobile devices, or no source at all.
The cost-effective BrightLink models deliver a large interactive
learning area with variable image sizes and include HDMI
connectivity. Epson projectors offer 3x higher color brightness
than leading competitive projectors2. Epson BrightLink
projectors utilize 3LCD, 3-chip technology for brilliant images
with vivid color.
As a leader in innovation and partnership, Epson also offers the
Brighter Futures® program, a unique sales and support
initiative available specifically for schools. Designed to help
educators select and implement the best products for their
classrooms while making the most of their budgets, Brighter Futures
offers special pricing, extended Epson limited warranty coverage
for three years, dedicated education account managers, and
toll-free technical support for all Epson projectors and associated
accessories.
About Epson
Epson is a global technology leader
dedicated to driving innovations and exceeding customer
expectations in printing, visual communications, quality of life
and manufacturing. Epson's lineup ranges from inkjet printers,
printing systems and 3LCD projectors to industrial robots, smart
glasses and sensing systems and is based on original compact,
energy-saving, and high-precision technologies.
Led by the Japan-based Seiko
Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises nearly 72,000
employees in 93 companies around the world, and is proud of its
contributions to the communities in which it operates and its
ongoing efforts to reduce environmental burdens.
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: epson.com.
You may also connect with Epson
America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter
(twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/EpsonAmerica), and
Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica).
About SMART Notebook
SMART's award-winning 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. The included one year
SMART Notebook Advantage subscription lets you unlock premium
features and upgrade to new versions of SMART Notebook software,
and access live technical support. 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 more than 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 SMART
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.
1 Based on units sold for 500-lumen and higher
projectors, calendar year 2014, according to Futuresource
Consulting Limited.
2 Color brightness (color light output) measured in
accordance with IDMS 15.4. Color brightness will vary depending on
usage conditions. The projectors used by a third-party lab for
measuring color brightness were leading Epson 3LCD business and
education projectors and leading 1-chip DLP projectors, based on
NPD sales data for June 2013 through
May 2014 and PMA Research sales data
for Q1 through Q3 2013.
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.
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SOURCE Epson