三星欲借Windows設備再戰蘋果

After failing to gain significant market share with tablets running on Google Inc.'s Android operating system, Samsung Electronics Co. is now betting on new devices running on Microsoft Corp.'s Windows as it continues to battle it out for dominance with Apple Inc. in mobile devices.

由於未能憑藉搭載谷歌(Google Inc.)安卓(Android)操作系統的平板電腦獲得大量市場份額，三星電子(Samsung Electronics Co.)如今把賭注押到搭載微軟(Microsoft Corp.) Windows操作系統的新設備上。目前，三星在繼續與蘋果公司(Apple Inc.)爭奪移動設備市場的主導地位。

Following a major defeat in the U.S. last week where a jury awarded damages of more than $1 billion to Apple ruling that Samsung copied the U.S. company's designs and software patents, Samsung showcased its product pipeline for the second half of this year at a tradeshow in Berlin, Germany, Thursday.

三星電子本週四在德國柏林的一個展會上展示了今年下半年將推出的一系列新產品。此前，上週三星電子在美國遭遇了滑鐵盧，陪審團認定三星侵犯了蘋果公司的設計和軟件專利，要求三星向蘋果支付逾10億美元的賠償金。

The company unveiled its ATIV line of products including a 10.1-inch tablet device running on Windows RT and a 4.8-inch smartphone running on the Windows Phone 8 system. The new products will be launched later this year and Samsung didn't disclose the launch dates or the price.

三星在上述展會上推出了其ATIV產品線，其中包括搭載Windows RT操作系統的一款屏幕爲10.1英寸的平板電腦，以及一款搭載Windows Phone 8系統的屏幕爲4.8英寸的智能手機。這些新產品將於今年晚些時候上市，不過三星沒有透露具體上市日期或產品價格。

Samsung has in the past relied heavily on Android-based devices to gain market share against Apple globally, but Friday's U.S. verdict has put a spotlight on Android manufacturers, such as Samsung, and their heavy dependence on Google for mobile operating software.

三星此前嚴重依賴安卓設備同蘋果在全球市場奪取市場份額，但上週五美國法院做出的裁決讓外界開始關注三星等安卓設備廠商及其對谷歌手機操作系統嚴重依賴的問題。

Samsung said in a statement it is 'committed to offering more choices based on the Windows 8 platform for consumers.'

三星在一份聲明中說，該公司致力於向消費者提供基於Windows 8平臺的更多選擇。

'It's highly likely that Samsung will seek to reduce its dependence on Google, while it continues to strengthen its Window-based product line up,' said Lee Sun-tae, an analyst at NH Investment & Securities. Mr. Lee said the Windows-based devices shows that Samsung is accelerating its shift from Android to Microsoft's operating system.

韓國券商NH Investment & Securities的分析師Lee Sun-tae說，三星很有可能會爭取降低對谷歌的依賴，同時繼續擴大基於Windows系統的產品陣容。他說，推出Windows設備表明三星正在加快其從安卓向微軟操作系統的轉變過程。

Despite Samsung's move, analysts are skeptical as to whether Samsung will be able to gain more share with Microsoft's software. Sales for Windows phones have already disappointed Nokia Corp., which receives regular payments from Microsoft to develop phones using its software. Sales of Nokia's Lumia line of smartphones haven't really taken off as Nokia also struggles from competition with Apple.

儘管如此，分析師對三星能否憑藉微軟操作系統獲得更多市場份額持懷疑態度。Windows手機的銷售情況已經令諾基亞公司(Nokia Corp.)倍感失望。諾基亞會定期從微軟收到用於研發Windows手機的資金。由於來自蘋果的競爭令諾基亞舉步維艱，其Lumia系列智能手機賣得並不好。

Samsung's partnership with Microsoft following the release of these devices is expected to strengthen, said Seo Won-seok, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities. But he said the new products won't help much in the near term because there hasn't been significant growth for Windows-based phones due to weak consumer demand.

韓國券商Korea Investment & Securities的分析師Seo Won-seok說，在三星發佈上述設備之後，預計三星與微軟的合作將會加強。但他也說這些新產品在短期內對提振三星業績沒有多大幫助，原因在於消費者需求疲軟導致Windows手機銷量並沒有大幅增長。

Android has given Samsung's smartphone business a shot in the arm. The company became the world's biggest smartphone maker by shipments earlier this year when it overtook both Apple and Nokia. Based on data from IDC, a market researcher, Samsung had a 32.6% share of the global smartphone market in the second quarter, ahead of Apple's 16.9% and Nokia's 6.6%. But in tablets, Samsung has trailed behind significantly. Apple's iPad still had an overwhelming lead, with 68.2% of the market. Samsung's share of the tablet market is just 9.6%, according data from IDC.

安卓系統已經給三星智能手機業務打了一針強心劑。按發貨量計算，今年早些時候三星一舉超越蘋果和諾基亞成爲全球最大的智能手機制造商。市場研究機構國際數據公司(IDC)的數據表明，今年二季度三星在全球智能手機市場的份額達到32.6%，領先於蘋果的16.9%和諾基亞的6.6%。但在平板電腦市場，三星就顯示出明顯的落後。蘋果iPad以68.2%的市場份額在這一領域遙遙領先。IDC的數據表明，三星在平板電腦市場的份額僅有9.6%。

On Thursday, Samsung also showcased a successor to its Galaxy Note device which runs on Android and combines the functions of a smartphone and a tablet into one.

週四三星還展出了新一代Galaxy Note跨界產品。該產品搭載的是安卓系統，融合了智能手機和平板電腦的各種功能。

Samsung attempted to create this new product category called 'phablet' when it launched the first Galaxy Note in November last year as its patent fight with Apple began escalating around the globe. Apple first sued Samsung in April last year alleging that Samsung 'slavishly' copied the design and the feel of its iPad and iPhones. Samsung countersued, saying that Apple violates various patents related to telecommunications technology.

三星試圖創建這一名爲“平板手機”(phablet)的新產品類別。去年11月，就在三星和蘋果的專利戰在全球範圍內不斷升級之際，三星推出了第一代Galaxy Note。去年4月，蘋果首先對三星提起訴訟，稱三星“完全”抄襲了蘋果iPad和iPhone的設計和外觀。三星隨後提出反訴，稱蘋果侵犯了其與電信技術相關的多項專利。

The Galaxy Note has grown to become one of the biggest profit contributors to Samsung's mobile business, along with the company's flagship Galaxy smartphones. In the second quarter, more than 60% of Samsung's total operating profit of nearly $6 billion came from the sale of mobile devices.

Galaxy Note已經成爲三星移動設備業務最大的利潤來源之一，作爲三星旗艦產品的Galaxy智能手機也是主要利潤來源。今年二季度，在三星近60億美元的營業利潤總額中，超過60%來自移動設備的銷售。

The Galaxy Note II has a larger 5.5-inch screen and allows users to use a pen to write and browse the Internet. Since the launch of the first model, Samsung said it has sold more than 10 million units.

Galaxy Note II屏幕尺寸更大，爲5.5英寸，用戶可以使用一種特製的筆在屏幕上進行書寫並瀏覽互聯網。自第一代Galaxy Note上市以來，三星說其銷量已經超過1,000萬部。

Samsung has said the design of Galaxy Note is different from the iPhone with a bigger screen and more rounded edges. Throughout the trial in the U.S., Apple argued that Samsung's smartphones with their rectangular shape looked too much like the iPhone.

三星表示，Galaxy Note的設計和iPhone不同，前者屏幕更大，邊角更圓潤。在美國進行庭審的整個過程中，蘋果始終認爲三星智能手機的長方形造型看上去和iPhone過於相似。

On Monday, Apple filed a motion to ban 8 Samsung smartphones from the U.S. market. So far, sales of those products in the U.S. have amounted to more than $3 billion since they came into the market in 2011, according to court documents.

週一，蘋果公司提交了一份動議，請求法院禁止三星八款智能手機在美國市場進行銷售。法庭文件顯示，自2011年這些產品上市以來，到目前爲止其在美國的銷售收入累計超過30億美元。

Samsung is hoping that the new Galaxy Note II can help cushion the blow from a potential sales ban in the U.S. later this year.

三星希望，一旦其智能手機今年晚些時候在美國遭遇銷售禁令，新一代Galaxy Note II能夠幫助其緩解由此帶來的衝擊。