Companies unveil integrated solutions at ISE
NEC Display Solutions and SMART combine products for education
AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands --- February 2, 2010 --- NEC Display Solutions Europe and SMART Technologies announce a working agreement to offer education customers across EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) better teaching and learning solutions. NEC Display Solutions Europe and SMART are unveiling a collaborative visual learningproduct combination at the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show opening today in Amsterdam. Collaborative visual learning combines the latest NEC NP610S short-throw projector and one of three projector-mounting options with either the SMART Board ™ 680 interactive whiteboard or SMART Board V280 interactive whiteboard and SMART Notebook ™ collaborative learning software. Together these products offer a powerful and affordable interactive display solution for the education market, in which both companies have extensive experience and brand recognition.
With the integration of a category-leading interactive whiteboard and high-quality NEC projector, NEC Display Solutions Europe and SMART are offering the simple integration of a combined product that provides optimal performance with minimal setup. Customers will be able to purchase the complete solution from select NEC Display Solutions Europe and SMART resellers. Both NEC Display Solutions Europe and SMART have demonstrated strengths in the education market that provide both companies with significant advantages in working together. Their arrangement does not alter existing agreements with distributors for either company.
“ This is a strategic collaboration where NEC Display Solutions Europe and SMART, two strong brands, join forces in creating product solutions that will meet the needs of education customers,“ says Bernd Eberhardt, managing director of NEC Display Solutions Europe GmbH. “It underlines both companies’ commitment to drive the integration of innovative products into education environments.”
“SMART is the global leader in the interactive whiteboard product category, and NEC is a leading manufacturer and service provider of telecommunications, computer and electronic devices,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s CEO. “By combining our products, we have created a cost-effective interactive display solution that is ideal for educators.”
Collaborative Visual Learning features
NEC NP610S short throw projector – This projector offers low total cost of ownership thanks to it’s filter, remote control, long lamp life, low power consumption and monitoring via network and RS-232 . The projector is environmentally friendly and includes a carbon savings meter, intelligent power management and minimized packaging made of recycled materials. The projector’s exceptional performance and excellent image quality are provided by 2600 ANSI lumens brightness. It also features full connectivity, including DVI and RJ45. NEC’s unique virtual remote software allows the user to operate the projector directly from the SMART Board interactive whiteboard without a remote control and is available at no cost to collaborative visual learning users. Additional features include auto input detection, automatic keystone correction, color management, direct power-off functionality, and magnify and high altitude modes. Increased security is
provided by a Kensington ® lock, keypad lock, security bar, an OnScreenDisplay (OSD) menu with 21 languages and a password security system.
Three mounting options – NEC’s mounting options range from a rugged wall-mount to sophisticated mobile and height-adjustable options. They include the NP02WM wall-mount, the NP01HM height adjustable mobile mount solution and the NP01HW height adjustable wall-mount solution.
SMART Board 680 interactive whiteboard – The category-leading interactive whiteboard offers 77" (195.6 cm) of active screen area. Simply by touching the large display, users can access and control computer and multimedia applications, including CDs, DVDs and Internet applications. Users can also write notes in digital ink and save their work to share later. The Pen Tray automatically detects when a user picks up a pen or eraser, while buttons activate the On-Screen Keyboard, right-click and help functions.
SMART Board V280 interactive whiteboard – The SMART Board V280 interactive whiteboard offers 77" (195.6 cm) of active screen area. Users simply touch the large display with a battery-powered pen to write notes in digital ink or access and control computer and multimedia applications, including CDs and DVDs, Internet applications, and applications for Windows ® operating systems. The entire system is powered with a single USB cable connected to a computer. The SMART Board V280 interactive whiteboard uses SMART’s patented DViT ™ (Digital Vision Touch) technology in a front-projection, pen-only system.
SMART Notebook collaborative learning software – Both the SMART Board V280 interactive whiteboard and SMART Board 680 interactive whiteboard come with SMART Notebook software, one of the world’s most popular collaborative learning applications with over 2.5 million users worldwide. It is designed to help teachers create and deliver engaging and interactive lessons across all grades and subject areas.
Pricing and availability
Collaborative visual learning will be available in February 2010. Pricing will depend on the interactive whiteboard and mounting option selected. End-user pricing in all countries depends on applicable taxes, duties and import costs. For more information, specifications and a list of authorized SMART distributors, visit smarttech.com . For more information and specifications, visit www.sharpnecdisplays.eu .
NEC Display Solutions Europe GmbH
NEC Display Solutions Europe GmbH has its European headquarters in Munich, Germany, and is responsible for all business activities in EMEA, which is divided into the following sales regions – Northern Europe, Western and Southern Europe, Central Europe, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and Africa. NEC Display Solutions benefits from the technological know-how and technologies of the NEC Corporation and, with its own research and development, is one of the world's leading manufacturers offering the widest product range of display solutions in the market. NEC’s display product portfolio ranges from entry-level to professional and speciality desktop LCDs, via large-size public displays for digital and retail signage. The projector range offers products for all needs, from portable devices via business projectors to products for permanent operation, such as PoS applications, and digital cinema projectors. Bernd Eberhardt is the managing director of the European head office.
About SMART
SMART Technologies introduced the world’s first interactive whiteboard in 1991 and is the global interactive whiteboard category leader, providing easy-to-use, integrated hardware, software and services that improve the way the world collaborates and learns. For more than 20 years, innovation and commitment to excellence have been at the core of its business. SMART revolutionized education with products that empower educators to improve student outcomes by effectively implementing technology products that support all learning styles and environments. The company helps business people achieve better results with products that enable more productive meetings and collaborative work. Its success is driven by a deep commitment to and engagement with both the education and business communities. SMART offers products, resources and services that transform the way people learn and work.
For more information, please contact:
Stefanie Corinth
Vice President
Marketing & Business Development
NEC Display Solutions Europe
Phone/Fax: +49 89 99699 -384/-565
Mobile: +49 170 3557603
E-mail: stefanie.corinth@nec-displays.com
Sandra Semple
Senior Public Relations Specialist
SMART Technologies
Phone: +1.403.407.5083
Fax: +1.403.228.2500
Mobile: +1.403.973.1911
E-mail: SandraSemple@smarttech.com
Web: smarttech.com
© 2010 SMART Technologies ULC. SMART Board, SMART Notebook, DViT, smarttech and the SMART logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of SMART Technologies ULC in the U.S. and/or other countries. All third-party company names and products are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.