亞馬遜與HTC合作開發手機
Amazon is working with HTC to develop a range of smartphones as the online retailer steps up efforts to compete with Apple and Google, according to people familiar with the project.
知情人士稱，網路零售商亞馬遜(Amazon)正與巨集達電(HTC)合作開發一個智慧手機產品系列，以加大與蘋果(Apple)和谷歌(Google)的競爭力度。One of the three devices discussed by the two companies is at an advanced stage of development, according to one person, but another warned that the timeline for launch has been changed before and Amazon may yet decide not to release it. Rumours that Amazon would enter the smartphone market have been circulating for up to two years. The device is unlikely to launch this year but may launch in 2014 if Amazon decides to proceed with the project.
其中一位知情人士表示，兩家企業聯手的三款移動裝置之一已進入研發的後期階段。不過，另一位知情人士警告說，釋出的時間表此前曾有變動，亞馬遜也仍有可能決定不釋出該裝置。有關亞馬遜可能進入智慧手機市場的傳聞已經流傳了兩年之久。該移動裝置不太可能於今年釋出，但是如果亞馬遜決定將該專案開展下去，則有可能在2014年釋出該裝置。Amazon did not respond to a request for comment. In response to a recent report on its mobile ambitions, it said that it had “no plans to offer a phone this year”. HTC declined to comment on Amazon, but Ben Ho, its chief of marketing, said the company is “always exploring new opportunities”.
亞馬遜未迴應記者的置評請求。該公司在迴應最近一則有關其在移動市場雄心的報道時曾表示，“並無今年釋出手機的打算”。HTC拒絕對亞馬遜置評，不過該公司首席營銷官何永生(Benjamin Ho)表示，該公司“對於新的機遇始終不會放過”。
“We have been very focused on building our own brand, but we have also been very open to co-branding and collaborating with carriers and other technology brands,” said Mr Ho.
何永生表示：“我們始終對建設自身品牌極為專注，不過我們也十分願意與電信運營商和其他技術品牌進行品牌聯合以及其它合作。”By using HTC to help design the phones, Amazon is acting much like Google, which has deals with Asus and LG to develop its Nexus line of tablets and phones.
亞馬遜在HTC的幫助下設計手機，這種做法與谷歌十分相像。後者與華碩(Asus)和LG都簽有協議，以開發其Nexus系列的平板電腦和手機。
