In 1991, Smart became the first company to produce an interactive whiteboard. There are now more than 1.6 million Smart boards in use throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Promethean released its first product in 2003, in the form of a software called ActivPrimary. The company released its first interactive whiteboard in 2007. Since then, Promethean has continued to innovate by implementing features based on feedback the company receives from working educators.
Both Smart and Promethean have websites where teachers can interact with one another to share teaching strategies, particularly relating to the use of interactive whiteboards. According to Education Business Blog, Promethean's "Promethean Planet" is one of the largest online gatherings of teachers in the world, with over 350,000 members. Smart's "Teachers Hub" has fewer members, but still has many resources and professional development tools available.
Perhaps one of the greatest benefits that these systems have in common is platform independence. Third party hardware and software developers have created a wide range of tools such as response systems and audio projection systems. Platform independence means that these tools work with both Promethean and Smart boards (without compatibility problems).