Research In Motion Ltd. is readying a slate of new
devices and software as it looks to keep its BlackBerry smartphone from losing more ground to touch-
screendevices like Apple Inc.'s iPhone and iPad.
esearch In Motion Ltd.准备推出一系列新产品和软件。该公司正努力避免所产黑莓(BlackBerry)智能手机在与苹果公司(Apple Inc.)的iPhone和iPad等触屏产品的竞争中丢掉更多地盘。
RIM is testing a touch-
screen smartphone with a slide-out keyboard, according to people familiar with the
device. The phone runs on a new
version of the BlackBerry operating
system and works much like an iPhone, letting users swipe through
screens and
expand images with their fingers, these people say. It also has a
universal search bar that lets users scour all the phone's data and some data online as well, these people say.
据知情人士说,RIM目前正在测试一款配有滑出式键盘的触屏智能手机。这些知情人士说,这款手机使用新版黑莓操作系统,与iPhone工作方式很相似,用户可以用手指在屏幕上滑动,放大图片;它还具有一个通用搜索条,用户可以搜索手机中的全部数据以及一些在线数据。
RIM is also experimenting with a
tabletdevice to serve as a larger-
screencompanion to its BlackBerry phone, say people familiar with RIM's plans. That
device, which is in an early stage of development, will connect to cellular networks via a BlackBerry phone, these people say. It could come out as soon as the end of the year, these people say.
据熟悉RIM计划的人士透露,该公司还在测试一款平板电子产品,作为比黑莓屏幕更大的配对产品。这些知情人士说,这款产品仍在开发的早期阶段,它将通过黑莓手机与手机网络相连;最早有可能在今年底推出。
A RIM spokeswoman said the company doesn't
comment on rumors and
speculation. RIM executives have said they will ship a phone
running a new operating
system and a new Web browser in the quarter
ending Sept. 30, but haven't provided details of the
device. They haven't discussed plans for a
tablet.
RIM发言人说,该公司对流言和猜测不予置评。公司高管说,他们将在截至9月30日的季度里推出一款使用新版操作系统和新网络浏览器的手机,不过没有透露手机的具体细节。他们尚未讨论有关平板电子产品的计划。
The new offerings come as the Waterloo, Ontario, company, which has long led the U.S. market for smart-phones, faces increased
competition from
devices built by Apple and those that run on the Android operating
system from Google Inc. On June 24, Apple will
release the latest
version of its smartphone, the iPhone 4.
一直引领美国智能手机市场的RIM计划推出新产品之际,正值该公司面临来自苹果产品和使用谷歌(Google Inc.)Android操作系统的手机的竞争加剧。6月24日,苹果将推出最新款智能手机iPhone 4。
RIM still sells more smartphones globally than any company besides Nokia Corp., and last year grabbed 19% of the world market for the do-everything
devices, according to the
research firm Strategy Analytics.
据研究公司Strategy Analytics的数据,RIM在全球的智能手机销量仍仅次于诺基亚(Nokia Corp.),去年在全球智能手机市场上占了19%的份额。
But its share of the key North American market is slipping, as RIM has been slow to match Apple and Android's touch-
screen technology, smooth Internet-browsing capability and add-on software. RIM has just one phone line with a touch
screen, the BlackBerry Storm.
不过,由于该公司在推出与苹果和Android触屏技术、流畅的互联网浏览能力和附加软件相抗衡的产品上步伐迟缓,在关键的北美市场的份额在下滑。RIM只有一款触屏手机BlackBerry Storm。
The iPhone's mountain of applications, or apps, and slick user experience in particular are enticing new consumers. RIM's share of the North American smartphone market by shipments dropped to 38% in the March quarter from 54% in the year-ago quarter. Apple's share has climbed from 18% to 23% in that same period.
iPhone海量的应用程序和尤其流畅的用户体验吸引了新的用户。在3月份的一个季度中,RIM的销量在北美智能手机市场中的份额从去年同期的54%下滑至38%。同期苹果的份额则从18%增长到23%。