Photo Release -- SMART Enhances Collaboration for Microsoft Lync 2010 Users

New Software Brings Freestorm(TM) Visual Collaboration Solutions Into Lync Meetings


TORONTO, July 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SMART Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:SMT) (TSX:SMA), a leading provider of visual collaboration solutions, announces that it is enabling Freestorm visual collaboration solutions for Microsoft Lync 2010 users through the release of the SMART Meeting Pro connector for Microsoft Lync. The new software connects Freestorm solutions from SMART with Microsoft Lync to create an immersive audio, video and data sharing experience in meeting rooms. The solution is being unveiled today at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) in Toronto, Canada and will be available in August 2012.

A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13565

Microsoft Lync 2010 is a unified communication platform that connects users in multiple locations. By combining Freestorm visual collaboration solutions with Microsoft Lync, rich data collaboration tools are added to the user experience. Bringing together Microsoft Lync, SMART's interactive displays and SMART Meeting Pro software allows in-room and remote users to share data from any software application. In addition, participants can use SMART Ink to create digital notes, write into existing Microsoft Office applications and PDF documents, and capture ideas from all users regardless of location. When using this solution the start-up time for Microsoft Lync 2010 is reduced to 60 seconds or less with a connection through Microsoft Exchange, ensuring optimal use of meeting time. Freestorm solutions together with Microsoft Lync 2010 offer customers a complete collaboration and productivity experience for positive business outcomes. For more information, visit smarttech.com/connector.

"This solution allows us to work with SMART to create solutions for our mutual customers," says Giovanni Mezgec, General Manager for Lync, Microsoft Corporation. "SMART's solution gives customers more options for collaboration, helping them to choose products that best fit their needs."

"SMART is committed to working with industry-leading companies to enable increased collaboration and productivity for both formal and informal meetings," says Linda Thomas, Vice President, Products, SMART Technologies. "The audio and video capabilities of Microsoft Lync 2010 and the real time two-way collaboration tools of SMART's interactive displays and SMART Meeting Pro software give users a far more comprehensive and effective meeting experience."

Video

Watch this video to see how the SMART Meeting Pro connector for Microsoft Lync enhances collaboration.

About SMART

SMART Technologies Inc. is a leading provider of collaboration solutions that change the way the world works and learns. As the global leader in interactive whiteboards, our focus is on developing a variety of easy-to-use, integrated solutions that free people from their desks and computer screens, making collaboration and learning with digital resources more natural. Our products have transformed teaching and learning in more than two million classrooms worldwide, reaching over 40 million students and their teachers. In business, our Freestorm visual collaboration solutions improve the way that people work and collaborate, enabling them to be more productive and reduce costs.

The SMART Technologies logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7573

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.

© 2012 SMART Technologies. Freestorm, SMART Meeting Pro, SMART Ink, smarttech and the SMART logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of SMART Technologies in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other 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.

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.



            
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