Apple takes more than half of handset industry's profits

 　　SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- With its popular iPhone series, Apple seized more than half of the profits generated by the top eight mobile phone manufacturers during the third quarter, said a monthly market analysis released on Friday.

　　Apple generated a remarkable¹ 52 percent of handset industry operating profits for the top eight OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) in the third quarter, up five percent over the same period of 2010, said Canaccord Genuity technology analyst² Michael Walkley.

　　The number was down from 57 percent in the second quarter, due to a drop in iPhone sales as customers held out for the upcoming iPhone 4S.

　　Apple's major rival in the mobile industry is Samsung. The two companies together represented 81 percent of the handset industry' s operating profits last quarter.

　　Other major mobile phone manufacturers are Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, HTC, Research In Motion and LG.

　　Calling it "an epic³ reversal of fortunes," Walkley noted⁴ that in 2007, Nokia had 67 percent of operating profits while Apple had just 4 percent. Compared with Apple's 52 percent of industry profits in the third quarter of 2011, Nokia has been relegated⁵ to its rival's former position with just 4 percent of operating profits.

　　The analyst said he has conducted "channel checks" that show strong demand not only for the new iPhone 4S but also for the previous models of iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS. He told technology news website AllthingsD that Apple is believed to be able to gain further value share in the December quarter and capture over 60 percent of industry profits.

　　In a Bloomberg report on Friday, several technology analysts⁶ said the two-year-old iPhone 3GS, whose price has been slashed⁷ to zero if it is purchased with a contract, will become one of Apple' s big weapons in the coming holiday season against smartphones running Google's Android system.

1 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

2 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

3 epic   

n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的

参考例句：

• I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放弃了写叙事诗，而写了这个小故事。
• They held a banquet of epic proportions.他们举行了盛大的宴会。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 relegated   

v.使降级( relegate的过去式和过去分词 )；使降职；转移；把…归类

参考例句：

• She was then relegated to the role of assistant. 随后她被降级做助手了。
• I think that should be relegated to the garbage can of history. 我认为应该把它扔进历史的垃圾箱。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 slashed   

v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减

参考例句：

• Someone had slashed the tyres on my car. 有人把我的汽车轮胎割破了。
• He slashed the bark off the tree with his knife. 他用刀把树皮从树上砍下。 来自《简明英汉词典》