Lenovo Acquires Classroom Management, Cloud Services Company Stoneware
Lenovo, one of the largest computer manufacturers in the world, today revealed that it's acquiring Stoneware, a developer of classroom management and cloud software tools.
In K-12, Stoneware is best known for its LanSchool suite of cross-platform classroom management tools. LanSchool offers features like screen monitoring, site blocking and application limiting, as well as classroom interaction features, such as voting and chat.
Stoneware also makes a browser-based, cloud-delivered virtual desktop suite called webNetwork. It provides an HTML5-based analog to a computer desktop that can be accessed through a Web browser. It also offers online storage and access to applications, including applications that run on Microsoft Windows platforms.
According to Lenovo, those two suites will continue to be developed by the Stoneware team, all 67 of whom are expected to join Lenovo.
"The Stoneware team will remain in Indiana and Utah and will continue to sell both webNetwork and LanSchool while serving customers and partners with the same level of dedication and excellence," according to Lenovo.
Lenovo reported that Stoneware's products are currently in use by "millions of users primarily in education and the public sector" but said that it plans to broaden Stoneware's offerings beyond education and government and to launch new offerings to help Lenovo enhance its "PC Plus" initiative among its wider user base.
"Adding Stoneware cloud computing into the Lenovo line up presents a significant opportunity to leverage their success, and enhance our PC Plus offerings, all to the benefit of our customers" said Peter Hortensius, senior vice president, and president, Product Group, Lenovo, in a prepared statement. "We have a history of innovation and embracing new technologies, and the talented team at Stoneware will fit in perfectly with our long-term strategy.
"We are pleased to be joining forces with Lenovo," said Rick German, CEO of Stoneware,also in a prepared statement. "Lenovo is one of the largest and fastest growing technology companies in the world and for Stoneware, a small company with roots in the heartland of the United States, we are delighted to be given the opportunity to deliver real benefit to customers on a global stage."
The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Additional details can be found on Stoneware's site.