Apple announced the iPhone on January 9，2007, after months of rumors and speculation. The original iPhone was introduced in the United States on June 29，2007 before being marketed worldwide. Time magazine named it the Invention of the Year in 2007. Released on July 11，2008, the iPhone 3G supports faster 3G data speeds and assisted GPS. On March 17，2009, Apple announced version 3.0.
苹果公司于2007年1月9日公布了有关iPhone的消息，之前几个月一直有关于iPhone的传闻和 猜测。2007年6月29日，iPhone最初在美国被介绍给大家，至此还未做世界性的推广。《时代杂志》把 它评选成为2007年年度发明。iPhone 3G于2008年7月11日发布，它支持更快的3G数据传送速度, 也支持GPS传输。2009年3月17日，苹果公司公布了其3.0版本。
While including PDA applications (address book, calendar, to-do lists, etc.) as well as telephone capabilities，the BlackBerry is primarily known for its ability to send and receive e-mail wherever it can access a wireless network or certain cellular phone signals.
黑莓手机,有PDA功能(地址簿、日历、记事本等）,也能作为一 般的电话，但最出名的是它的收发邮件功能，只要有无线网络或者 手机信号就可以。
No wonder they’re called smart phones. Not only can these fancy phones send e-mail, get directions and play music, they can generate huge profits for their makers.
难怪要叫它们智能手机。这些花哨的手机不仅可以发送电子 邮件、指路和播放音乐,它们还能给制造商带来大笔利润。
At least for iPhone's manufacturer Apple and BlackBerry’s Research In Motion. The two accounted for only 3% of all cellphones sold in the world last year but 35% of operating profits, according to Deutsche Bank analyst Modoff. The disparity will become even starker this year when, he estimates, the two will take 5% of the market in unit terms but 58% of total operating profits.
至少iPhone制造商苹果公司和黑莓制造商Research In Motion是赚得了钵满盆肥。据德意志银行分析师莫多夫分析,这两 家公司去年只占据了全球手机总销量的3%，却获得了市场总运营 利润的35%。他预计,这种差别今年会变得更加明显，两家公司将占 据市场销量的5%,并将掠走58%的总运营利润。
The two companies’ outsize share of profits underlines the shift in the wireless industry toward feature-rich devices accenting easy-to-use software and away from an emphasis on hardware. Smart phones account for only about 13% of total cellphone sales globally, but the segment is growing, despite a decline in the broader cellphone market. Apple and RIM had about 32% of the smart-phone market between them in the first quarter, estimates IDC.
这两家公司超高的利润比例彰显出手机行业正朝着强调软 件简单易用、功能丰富的机型发展，逐渐远离原先侧重于硬件的 方向。智能手机只占了全球手机总销量的13%左右，但在整个手 机市场下滑之际，智能手机却在不断增长。据市场研究公司IDC 预计，今年第一季度苹果和RIM占据了智能手机市场大约32%的 份额。
Underlying the winners-take-all nature of the market are fat subsidies from phone carriers, particularly in the US, which lets manufacturers maintain hefty average selling prices even as consumers pay as little as $ 100 a smart phone~not much more than for many basic phones. The higher subsidies reflect the carriers’ ability to charge higher monthly plan prices for phones that can easily surf the Web or handle e-mail.
彰显市场“强者为王”本质的还有来自手机运营商的大笔补 贴，尤其是在美国市场，这使得制造商可以维持高额的平均售价， 即便消费者可以以最低100美元的价格购买到一部智能手机—— 这个价格比很多普通手机贵不了多少。较高的补贴体现出运营商 每个月可以从这些能够便捷上网和发邮件的智能手机身上获得更 高的话费。
The iPhone, which is exclusive to AT&T and whose users are the heaviest Web surfers, draws the fattest subsidy, at about $ 400 a phone, Mr. Modoff calculates. BlackBeiries draw subsidies averaging $ 200 from US operators. Basic cell phones get a $ 100 subsidy.
以iPhone手机为例,美国电话电报公司(AT&T)是该手机在美国的独家销售商，该手机的用 户都是最重量级的网络用户。据莫多夫先生估算，iPhone获得了最为丰厚的补贴，大约是每部手机 400美元。黑莓手机则从美国运营商那里获得了平均每部200美元的补贴。而普通手机的补贴金额 是每部100美元。
Manufacturers of basic phones make virtually nothing, unless they have enormous scale. Nokia, the industry leader, manufactured 46% of the units sold last year but earned 55% of the profits, Mr. Modoff calculated.
普通手机制造商将很难获得利润，除非它们能够达到巨大的销量规模。据莫多夫先生估算,行 业领先公司诺基亚(Nokia)去年占据了手机总销量的46%,却获得总利润的55%。
Even Nokia is hurting. It long has been the top smart-phone maker, but its share in that market has been declining. It reported a 66% drop in the second quarterly profits on Thursday. While Nokia has seen its market share slip, many manufacturers have cut prices to preserve volumes. Also suffering was Sony Ericsson, a joint venture of Sony Corp. and Ericsson Corp., which posted its fourth quarterly loss on Thursday.
即便诺基亚也在承受冲击。该公司一直是头号智能手机制造商，但在这一市场的份额却在不 断下滑。上周四,诺基亚公布其第二季度利润下滑了 66%。在诺基亚市场份额流失的同时,很多制造 商纷纷降价来维持销量。同样遭受冲击的还有索尼爱立信，该公司于上周四公布了其第四季度的 亏损。索尼爱立信是索尼和爱立信的合资企业。
Both Apple and RIM have advantages with segments of the market that will make them tough to beat. The iPhone boasts thousands of consumer applications churned out by outside developers, while BlackBerry’s e-mail service is popular for its efficiency and security.
苹果和RIM都在手机市场拥有某些优势，这将使得它们实力强大难以击败。iPhone拥有来自 外部开发者提供的数千款消费者软件,而黑莓的电邮服务则以高效和安全广受欢迎。
That hasn’t stopped others from trying to jump in. Smart-phone pioneer Palm Inc., once counted out of the race, is getting attention for its new Pre device. But it is unclear how many developers will leap to write programs for a phone with limited distribution. All this portends badly for computer companies trying to break into the cellphone market, like Acer or Dell. They will need to improve their scale, production prowess and slim margins to gain a foothold.
这并没有阻止其他厂商加人智能手机市场。智能手机的先驱Palm Inc?正凭借着新推出的Pre 装置重新杀人这一市场。但目前还不清楚有多少开发商会为一款销量有限的手机编写软件。对宏 基或戴尔等试图进军手机市场的电脑厂商来说，这些都是坏兆头。它们将需要提高销售规模、生产 实力和微薄利润来在这个市场站稳脚跟。