First, we heard that the firm has made a significant new initiative in the way it offers its products and services to the market. New at the show is a special “Classroom as a Service” financial package, which offers a complete package of a big display, client devices (chromebooks), software, installation and three days of training that is being offered as a simple package based on a charge that is calculated “per classroom per month”.
The company has also simplified its business model for its Notebook software and now has a simple pricing model based on a price, per teacher, per year, including training. The Smart Notebook software is one of three components in the Smart Learning Suite which also includes the “Lesson Activity Builder (LAB)” and “amp”, a collaboration application.
At the show, Smart had special offers including a trade-in offer and a delayed payment option.
Turning to displays, the 4084 is a new 84″ UltraHD display. The 4084 will be available in April for around £4,339 ($6,999 in the US). The firm now has 11 models in the interactive flat panel range from 55″ to 84″ (although few 55″ are sold). The 4000 series is FullHD (except the 84″), while the 6000 series is UltraHD. Also new in the range are the 6075, which is due in February at £4,099 ($6,495) and the 4075 in the summer of 2016 at £3,599 ($5,499).
The 6000 series supports UltraHD at 60Hz and additional features on both ranges include extra ports, compatibility with mini PCs and 10 simultaneous touch points as well as a “freeze frame” feature and improved touch. The displays have commercial grade panels rated for 50,000 hours use.
Analyst Comment
Smart were particularly keen that we only spoke to a “qualified for the press” representative. Anyway, we got the company’s line at the show, although we were told that the 4084 was FullHD, which turned out to be wrong. The quality of text didn’t look particularly good, but there was no obvious pixellation, which we would have expected to see if the panel was FullHD. In retrospect, it may be that the 4084 has a FullHD chassis and electronics, but an UltraHD panel, which would also explain the naming of the product as in the 4000 FullHD series, but with an UltraHD panel. (BR)
