Mon, May 15, 2006 page15

• Mobile phone users take to the Internet 手機一族上網

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  Mobile phones may soon challenge personal computers as the main way people access the Internet, a recent survey suggests.

  The survey showed that 28 percent of mobile phone owners worldwide have browsed the Internet on a wireless handset, up from 25 percent at the end of 2004.

  This increase is due largely to participation by users above age 35, which analysts say suggests that the technology has gone mainstream.

  

  Motorola's Wi-Fi mobile phone. 摩扥羅拉的無線上網手機。(照片：美聯社)

  PHOTO: AP

  Japan is leading the growth, with 92 percent of mobile phone users having browsed the Internet or downloaded e-mail at least once a month on their phone in 2005.

  About four out of 10 Japanese adults went online using their mobile phones this year, up 50 percent from 2003. Next was Britain, where 29 percent used mobile phones for Internet, followed by the US and South Korea, each with 26 percent.

  However, the study reported that US and Canadian markets for online mobile phone technology are flattening out, and pointed to the popularity of notebook PCs using wireless technology as the main way to use the Internet while not at home.

  The study predicts that the appeal of greater convenience and faster connection speeds could lead to changes in PC and mobile phone Internet use.

  The study also noted that most wireless-device activities increased, including financial transactions, downloading entertainment and sending or receiving text messages, e-mails and digital pictures.

  "Accessing the Internet on a wireless handheld device is no longer a novelty for consumers in the major global economies. It's becoming a common, everyday occurrence for many people," said a spokesman for the company that did the survey. (AFP)

  最近一項調查顯示，手機可能很快就會挑戰個人電腦的地位，成為民眾上網的主要管道。

  這份調查指出，全球行動電話持有者以無線手機上網的比例，從二○○四年年底的 25% 上升至 28%。

  比例上升的主要原因是三十五歲以上的消費者加入市場，分析家表示，這項科技已成為主流市場。

  日本是帶動成長的龍頭，二○○五年就有 92% 的手機族，每月至少一次以手機瀏覽網際網路或下載電子郵件。

  今年日本約有 40% 的成人以手機上網，相較二○○三年成長 50%，其次英國有 29% 的民眾以手機上網，緊接在後的美國和南韓，則各有 26% 的使用者。

  然而，這份研究報告顯示美國和加拿大的手機上網市場正在萎縮，並指出筆記型電腦無線上網普及後，已成為民眾出外上網的主流。

  這份研究預測，更便利快速的訴求將引領風騷，改變個人電腦和手機上網的使用生態。

  這份研究亦指出，多數以無線裝置上網的活動有增加的趨勢，包括金融交易、下載娛樂內容和收發文字訊息、電子郵件及數位照片。

  主持這份問卷的公司發言人表示：「以手機無線上網對全球主要經濟市場的消費者來說早已不再新奇，對大多數人來說將如同家常便飯一樣。」 （法新社／翻譯：鄭湘儀）

  For your information

  Today's Words 今天單字

  1. challenge v.t. 挑戰 (tiao3 zhan4 ) 例：For decades, no one challenged Babe Ruth's home run record. （幾十年來，無人能挑戰貝比魯斯的全壘打紀錄。） 2. appeal n. 訴求 (su4 qiu2)；吸引力 (xi1 yin3 li4) 例：I just don't understand the appeal of watching baseball. （我實在不懂觀賞棒球的迷人之處。） 3. transaction n. 交易 (jiao1 yi4) 例：With ATM cards so convenient for so many people, almost no one actually goes into the bank to make a transaction. （提款卡為許多人帶來便利，幾乎沒有人真的到銀行進行交易了。） 4. novelty n. 新奇 (xin1 qi2) 例：Going up to the top of Taipei 101 is not really that much fun once the novelty has worn off. （新鮮感退卻後，上台北101頂端就不那麼有趣了。）

  For your information

  Reading Comprehension
  閱讀測驗

  1. What does the survey show? a. Most people use mobile phones to get to the Internet. b. More people use mobile phones to get to the Internet. c. More people are using wireless Internet. 2. In which country are more people using mobile phones to get to the Internet? a. Canada. b. The US. c. Japan. 3. In the US and Canada, how do people usually use the Internet while not at home? a. Through wireless notebook PCs. b. Through their mobile phones. c. At Internet cafes. 4. What does the study NOT say is a reason for the growth? a. More convenience. b. Faster connection speeds. c. Cheaper technology.
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