经济学人170:谷歌收购摩托罗拉

 　　Google’s takeover of Motorola Mobility¹

　　Google收购摩托罗拉移动部分

　　Patently different

　　截然不同

　　The battle in the mobile industry takes an unexpected turn

　　移动通信行业之争出现意外转折

　　Aug 20th 2011 | from the print edition

　　WHEN smartphones were still young and computing² tablets not yet born, some analysts³ predicted that the market for mobile devices would sooner or later look much like that for personal computers (PCs): there would be a clear division of labour and intellectual property between makers⁴ of hardware and software; a dominant⁵ operating system would emerge; and Apple would again become a niche⁶ player.

　　在智能手机初现江湖、平板电脑尚未问世之时，有些分析人士就预言移动通信设备市场迟早会变得和个人电脑PC市场一样：软硬件制造商之间分工明确，拥有各自的知识产权；有一个操作系统会一统江湖；而苹果将再次扮演只做特定群体买卖的角色。

　　If proof is still needed, Google’s takeover of Motorola Mobility is the strongest sign yet that this will not come to pass, at least in the near future. On the contrary, the mobile-device industry will bear a closer resemblance to its other parent: the market for old-fashioned, voice-only handsets.

　　不过至少在短期内，这一预言是不会成真了，假如你一定要我给个证据，Google收购摩托罗拉就是最有力的证明。相反，移动设备行业的市场状况倒是会与它的另一位生父更为相似，那就是：只有通话功能的老式手机。

　　Start with intellectual property. In contrast with PC makers, firms in the telecoms industry have long fought over patents. If such disputes are even more common over today’s mobile devices (see article), it is because they are exceedingly complex and based on intellectual property from many different industries.

　　先从知识产权说起。与PC制造商相比，电信企业对专利的争夺由来已久，而由于移动设备极其复杂，其知识产权来源于各行各业，知识产权纠纷在今时今日会变得更为普遍。

　　Gaining control of Motorola’s big patent portfolio⁷ will provide Google with ammunition⁸ in the ongoing⁹ battle between mobile platforms. Android, Google’s operating system for smartphones and other devices, has taken the world by storm. Its global market share is approaching 50% (see chart). Yet Apple and Microsoft have found a way to slow down, and even benefit from Android’s advance: going after makers of smartphones running Android for patent infringements¹⁰.

　　将摩托罗拉庞大的专利网收入囊中，这为Google参与激战正酣的移动平台争夺战提供了弹药。Google开发的智能手机及移动设备操作系统安卓Android正席卷全球。其全球市场份额正接近50%（见下图）。不过苹果和微软找到了应对之策，这两家公司甚至还从安卓的发展中受益：状告安卓智能手机制造商专利侵权。

　　This tactic¹¹ has put a price on Android, which Google gives away free. In early 2010 HTC, a leading vendor¹² of Android devices, agreed to pay royalties¹³ to Microsoft for the use of its patents. And in July Apple won a legal victory against HTC which could lead to even higher payments.

　　安卓本由Google免费发布，但两家公司的这一策略给安卓系统标上了价码。2010年初，安卓设备头号供应商HTC同意向微软支付专利费，同年7月，苹果打赢了与HTC的官司，这会让HTC支付更高的费用。

　　Google’s acquisition also illustrates¹⁴ the second difference between the markets for PCs and mobile devices: the latter will be more vertically¹⁵ integrated. Apple’s big advantage is controlling all parts of its products, from the user interface¹⁶ to the processor. It is thus able to fine-tune them, for instance to keep power consumption low or make touch screens react faster. Most devices powered by Android are not as highly optimised—which helps to explain why Android tablets, for instance, have yet to catch up with Apple’s iPad.

　　Google的收购还阐明了PC市场与移动设备市场的第二个不同之处：后者更倾向于垂直整合。苹果的主要优势在于它控制着产品的一切，从用户界面到处理器。因此，苹果可以精细调整其产品，比如保持低耗电量或让触屏反应更迅速。而大部分安卓设备则做不到如此高度的优化，以安卓平板电脑为例，这也许就是它还赶不上苹果iPad的原因。

　　Owning a handset-maker allows Google to better integrate software and hardware. At the same time, the firm cannot copy Apple’s model completely. If it is seen to favour Motorola’s products, other device makers might abandon Android. This would defeat the operating system’s purpose: making sure that Google’s services—and thus its lucrative¹⁷ advertisements—make it onto as many mobile displays as possible. When Google’s bosses announced the merger¹⁸, they took great care to explain that they would run Motorola as a separate business and not change the way in which Android was managed.

　　拥有一家手机制造企业可以让Google更好地整合软件和硬件，同时，也不能完全照搬苹果的模式。如果其他设备制造商认为安卓偏向于摩托罗拉的产品，也许就会弃安卓而去。这有违该操作系统的初衷：务必让Google的服务尽可能多地出现在移动设备上，从而为其带来利润丰厚的广告业务。Google的老板在宣布这次收购时，就极力澄清说摩托罗拉会单独运作，他们不会改变安卓的管理模式。

　　Carolina Milanesi of Gartner, a market-research firm, expects Google to use Motorola to build benchmark models for Android devices to help others improve their products. The industry is moving towards a similar set-up. As part of a co-operation agreement with Nokia, Microsoft is using the Finnish company as its hardware-maker of reference.

　　市场研究公司Gartner的卡罗琳娜 米拉内西Carolina Milanesi估计，Google会用摩托罗拉打造一个安卓设备的标准模板，以帮助其他制造商改进各自的产品。移动行业正逐步走向标准化，微软已与诺基亚达成合作协议，所有硬件制造商的产品都以这家芬兰公司的硬件为准。

　　Third, it is unlikely that one firm will ever dominate the mobile industry as much as Microsoft did in PCs—because the most powerful companies will do almost anything to keep this from happening, says Ben Wood of CCS Insight, another research firm. Just like Google, they will spend billions to stay in the race. And wireless¹⁹ operators have let it be known that they are already unhappy with the current duopoly of Android and Apple. They will certainly push Nokia’s new Windows phones once they hit the market later this year or early next.

　　第三个不同，用另一家市场研究公司CCS Insight本 伍德Ben Wood的话来说，就是在移动行业中，不大可能有公司像微软在PC市场那样长期独家垄断，因为各大公司会竭力阻止发生这种情况。比如Google就将花费数十亿美元来保持竞争力。而无线运营商已经公开表示，他们对目前安卓和苹果两家争霸的局面感到不满，一旦诺基亚的Windows phones手机在今年或明年年初上市，他们肯定会助其一臂之力。

　　All of which means Google’s acquisition is unlikely to be the last deal of its kind. Other American technology giants have plenty of cash—and a need to strengthen their mobile stature²⁰, says Mr Wood. Even Amazon, an online shopping giant, may feel the urge to splash out and buy, perhaps, Sony-Ericsson, which like Motorola seems too small to make it on its own. The battle for supremacy²¹ in the mobile industry has only just begun.

　　所有这些，都意味着Google的收购不会是此类收购的最后一桩。伍德先生说，美国还有些腰缠万贯的技术巨头想要提高他们在移动行业的声望。甚至连网购业巨头亚马逊也迫不及待地想进来，它可能会收购索尼爱立信，这家公司与摩托罗拉一样，已经萎缩到无法支撑下去。争夺移动行业霸权的战斗才刚刚开始。

1 mobility   

n.可动性，变动性，情感不定

参考例句：

• The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
• Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。

2 computing   

n.计算

参考例句：

• to work in computing 从事信息处理
• Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. 早在计算机尚未普及的时代（约1980年），他们就创办了软件公司。

3 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。

4 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

6 niche   

n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等)

参考例句：

• Madeleine placed it carefully in the rocky niche. 玛德琳小心翼翼地把它放在岩石壁龛里。
• The really talented among women would always make their own niche.妇女中真正有才能的人总是各得其所。

7 portfolio   

n.公事包；文件夹；大臣及部长职位

参考例句：

• He remembered her because she was carrying a large portfolio.他因为她带着一个大公文包而记住了她。
• He resigned his portfolio.他辞去了大臣职务。

8 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

9 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

10 infringements   

n.违反( infringement的名词复数 )；侵犯，伤害

参考例句：

• It'seems to me we've got to decide on wider issues than possible patent infringements. 我认为我们不能只考虑侵犯专利可能性这一问题，要对更大的一些问题做出决策。 来自企业管理英语口语（第二版）(2)
• Wikipedia relies on its users to correct errors and spot copyright infringements. 维基百科主要依靠用户来纠正错误，并发现版权侵权行为。 来自互联网

11 tactic   

n.战略，策略；adj.战术的，有策略的

参考例句：

• Reducing prices is a common sales tactic.降价是常用的销售策略。
• She had often used the tactic of threatening to resign.她惯用以辞职相威胁的手法。

12 vendor   

n.卖主；小贩

参考例句：

• She looked at the vendor who cheated her the other day with distaste.她厌恶地望着那个前几天曾经欺骗过她的小贩。
• He must inform the vendor immediately.他必须立即通知卖方。

13 royalties   

特许权使用费

参考例句：

• I lived on about £3,000 a year from the royalties on my book. 我靠着写书得来的每年约3，000英镑的版税生活。 来自辞典例句
• Payments shall generally be made in the form of royalties. 一般应采取提成方式支付。 来自经济法规部分

14 illustrates   

给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明

参考例句：

• This historical novel illustrates the breaking up of feudal society in microcosm. 这部历史小说是走向崩溃的封建社会的缩影。
• Alfred Adler, a famous doctor, had an experience which illustrates this. 阿尔弗莱德 - 阿德勒是一位著名的医生，他有过可以说明这点的经历。 来自中级百科部分

15 vertically   

adv.垂直地

参考例句：

• Line the pages for the graph both horizontally and vertically.在这几页上同时画上横线和竖线，以便制作图表。
• The human brain is divided vertically down the middle into two hemispheres.人脑从中央垂直地分为两半球。

16 interface   

n.接合部位，分界面；v.(使)互相联系

参考例句：

• My computer has a network interface,which allows me to get to other computers.我的计算机有网络接口可以与其它计算机连在一起。
• This program has perspicuous interface and extensive application. 该程序界面明了，适用范围广。

17 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

18 merger   

n.企业合并，并吞

参考例句：

• Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
• Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。

19 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

20 stature   

n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材

参考例句：

• He is five feet five inches in stature.他身高5英尺5英寸。
• The dress models are tall of stature.时装模特儿的身材都较高。

21 supremacy   

n.至上；至高权力

参考例句：

• No one could challenge her supremacy in gymnastics.她是最优秀的体操运动员，无人能胜过她。
• Theoretically,she holds supremacy as the head of the state.从理论上说，她作为国家的最高元首拥有至高无上的权力。