Smart whiteboards to meet corporate needs

The new 600 series has bigger screen sizes, a USB hub and may carry specialist software

Audiovisual distributor Steljes has claimed that the launch of its new Smart Technologies range of interactive whiteboards will help partners crack the corporate market.

Steljes has been successful in the education sector with Smart, but sees bigger potential for the range in the corporate market, and intends to replace every flipchart with an interactive whiteboard (CRN, 25 July).

The 600 series is Smart’s first new range in seven years, and immediately replaces the existing 500 series.

“We will discontinue the 500 series this week but will continue to support it. The new range is the same price, although we have increased the screen sizes to 77in from 72in, 64in from 60in and 48in from 47in,” said Nancy Knowlton, president and co-chief executive of Smart, speaking at the launch last week.

Founded in 1987, Smart has a 58.2 per cent share of the UK whiteboard market. “Our nearest competitor has 25 per cent,” Knowlton said.

“Although we do pay particular attention to the education market and have done a lot of research into the needs of teachers, we also have great customers in the corporate and government/military markets. The needs of these users are very similar to those of education users.

“We are considering separating our software, so we could produce a board with just education-related software on it or with just corporate software on it,” Knowlton said.

Martin Large, group chief executive of Steljes, welcomed the move. “Splitting the software so that we would sell a corporate customer a board with only corporate software on it has got to happen. I’m hoping that by January this will be available.

“The addition of a USB hub is good for corporate customers, along with the audio system speakers that can be added to the new boards,” he said.