| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Interactive Whiteboards |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Calgary, AB, Canada |
| Products | Interactive whiteboards, student response system, wireless slates, interactive pen displays, interactive digital signage, conferencing software, classroom management software, concept-mapping software |
| Employees | 1,700+ |
| Website | http://www.smarttech.com/ |
Smart Technologies (NASDAQ: SMT) (TSX: SMA) is a publicly traded company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1987, Smart Technologies is best known as the developer of the Smart Board interactive whiteboard. As of the 2011 fiscal year end, Smart Board interactive whiteboards lead the interactive whiteboard category[1] with a 63% share in the United States, 44% share in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and 47% share globally.[2] On July 15, 2010, Smart Technologies placed an initial public offering (IPO).[3]
As of October 2011, Smart Technologies has received more than 30 awards,[4] including the 2011 Digital Alberta Outstanding Achievement Award,[5] and was ranked #18 on the 2011 Branham300 list of Canada's top ICT companies.[6] In 2004, the company was awarded 2004-2007 Worlddidac[7] Quality Charter (WQC) accreditation, a status which was received again for the 2007-2010 term.[8] In 2011, the Smart Technologies Headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standard certification.[9]
Contents |
Smart Technologies is a publicly traded company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In 1992, Smart formed a strategic alliance with Intel Corporation which resulted in joint product development and marketing efforts and Intel’s ongoing equity ownership in Smart. Smart first received ISO 9001[10] certification in 1998 and most recently renewed this registration in July, 2009.[11] In 2000, Smart opened its first office outside North America in Bonn, Germany. Additional offices were opened in Washington, D.C. (2001), Tokyo, Japan (2001), Manhattan, NY (2002), Chicago (2006), Shanghai, China (2006) and Paris (2009).[12]
On July 15, 2010 Smart Technologies placed an initial public offering on the NASDAQ stock exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), raising upwards of $660 million.[13]
Smart Technologies introduced the first Smart Board interactive whiteboard in 1991.[14] It was the first interactive whiteboard to provide touch control of computer applications and annotation over standard Microsoft Windows applications.[15] In 2003, Smart developed and later patented DViT (Digital Vision Touch) technology.[16][17] This camera-based touch technology for interactive whiteboards and interactive displays uses digital cameras and proprietary software and firmware to detect finger or pen contact with the screen. That contact is then interpreted as finger or pen activity.
In 2009, Smart filed a patent infringement lawsuit against New Zealand-based NextWindow[18] before acquiring the company outright in 2010[19]. As of fiscal year end 2010, Smart Technologies holds more than 150 issued patents[20] with more than 600 patents pending.[21][22] In 2011, Smart Technologies celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Smart Board interactive whiteboard, which coincided with the installation of the two millionth interactive whiteboard.[23] As of October 2011, Smart employs more than 1,700 people. Smart products are sold through dealers across North America and through distributors in countries around the world.[24]
The company supplies varieties of its Smart Board product. It also supplies various other interactive technology products, including Podium, Response, Table, Document Camera and Slate, and standard accessories
The company supplies software for use with its Smart Board and other hardware. It also supplies videoconferencing and other software.
Since December 2010, several class action complaints have been filed against SMART in the U.S. District Courts in New York and Illinois.[25][26] Filed on behalf of the purchasers of the Class A Subordinate Voting Shares in Smart's IPO in July 2010, the complaints alleged that the company did not disclose important information prior to the IPO. The New York actions have since been dismissed voluntarily and the Illinois action is pending.[27] At the time of Smart's IPO, shares were available at $17 before dropping to $8.91 at the time of the lawsuits. As of September 25, 2011, Smart's shares are holding around $4 per share.[28]