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(TM) 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(TM) 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.

(C) 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.


CONTACT: For more information, please contact
         
         Marina Geronazzo
         Manager, Public Relations
         SMART Technologies Inc.
         +1.403.407.5088
         MarinaGeronazzo@smarttech.com
         smarttech.com