阿里巴巴为何押注智能电视

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. hasn't made much headway with its Aliyun mobile operating system, but it's now setting its sights on the TV market with its own smart TV software.

中国电子商务巨头阿里巴巴集团控股有限公司(Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.)的阿里云移动操作系统没有取得什么进展，但现在，阿里巴巴将目光对准电视市场，推出自己的智能电视软件。

Alibaba said it is drawing on partnerships with content providers and Chinese TV makers such as Skyworth Digital Holdings Ltd. and Changhong Electric Co. that will incorporate the software into their TVs.

阿里巴巴说，其正与内容提供商和中国电视生产商组成伙伴关系。创维数码控股有限公司(Skyworth Digital Holdings Ltd.)和长虹电器(Changhong Electric Co.)等电视生产商将把阿里巴巴的软件整合到他们生产的电视中。

The move illustrates yet another attempt by Alibaba to diversify its operations. Alibaba built its own cloud computing unit in 2009 and introduced its own smartphone operating system in 2011. It also stepped up investments for its Internet business, including a stake investment in Sina Corp.'s Twitter-like Weibo service, a funding program for app developers, and subsidies to handset makers.

这一举动是阿里巴巴试图实现业务多元化的又一次尝试。阿里巴巴于2009年成立了云计算子公司，并于2011年推出自己的智能手机操作系统。同时阿里巴巴还加强了对互联网业务的投资，包括入股新浪(Sina Corp.)的微博服务，为应用开发商提供资金的项目，以及为手机生产商提供补贴。

But Alibaba has seen little success in its smartphone operating system in China where it aims to take on Google's dominant position in the market.

但阿里巴巴的智能手机操作系统在中国没能获得成功，该公司本想挑战谷歌(Google)在这一市场的主导地位。

Alibaba joins other technology companies such as Google, Samsung Electronics Co. and Apple Inc. in trying to develop a standard operating system for smart TVs that allow users to download apps, movies and surf the Web. But the companies haven't made much headway due to lack of interest from consumers. Unlike the mobile industry, there are no dominant software platforms for web-connected TVs and the area is seen as the next battleground for major technology giants.

阿里巴巴加入了谷歌、三星电子(Samsung Electronics Co.)和苹果(Apple Inc.)等科技公司的行列，试图开发针对智能电视的标准操作系统，让用户可以在电视上下载应用程序、电影并上网。但由于消费者缺乏兴趣，这些公司尚未取得重大进展。不同于手机行业的是，联网电视尚无占主导地位的软件平台，这一领域被认为是主要科技巨头们的下一个战场。

Analysts said Alibaba's smart TV operating system is a logical move as China's Internet TV market is still immature and has big growth potential.

分析人士说，阿里巴巴进军智能电视操作系统是合理的举动，因为中国互联网电视市场还不成熟，仍有很大的增长潜力。

Currently, most smart TVs in China are based on Android operating systems. But TV makers and customers would love to have more choices as competition helps bring better services, said IDC analyst Neo Zheng in Beijing. Alibaba's cooperation with [government-controlled] Wasu Media also gives it a better chance to succeed in China's Internet TV market.

国际数据公司(IDC)驻北京的分析师郑熙(Neo Zheng)说，目前，中国大多数智能电视都是基于安卓(Android)操作系统。但电视生产商和消费者会乐于拥有更多选择，因为竞争有助于带来更好的服务。通过与（政府控股的）华数传媒(Wasu Media)合作，也让阿里巴巴在中国网络电视市场成功的机率更大。

The company said it expects to launch a set-top box in the next few months but it didn't disclose the price.

阿里巴巴说，预计将在未来几个月内发布一款机顶盒，但没有透露价格。

IDC forecasts the penetration rate of smart TVs in China to rise to more than 50% next year from about 40% this year. The volume of smart TV shipments is projected to rise 45% to 40 million units next year.

IDC预计，明年中国的智能电视渗透率将从今年的40%左右上升至50%以上。智能电视发货量明年预计将增长45%，至4,000万台。

To promote its own TV operating system, Alibaba also said it has formed an alliance U.S.-based Cisco Systems Inc., though an Alibaba spokeswoman didn't provide details on how Cisco would be working with Alibaba. A Cisco representative couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

为了推广自己的电视操作系统，阿里巴巴还说其已经与美国的思科系统(Cisco Systems Inc.)联手，但阿里巴巴发言人没有提供思科如何与阿里巴巴合作的细节。记者无法立即联系思科的代表置评。