微軟公司最近在美國和加拿大推出了一項新的市場推廣活動，用戶可拿八九成新的iPad產品換取200美元的代金券，該代金券可用于購買微軟的Surface系列產品，不過，代金券只可在實體店使用。美國一位移動設備分析師認為，用戶并不會買賬。他指出，微軟最大的問題是app生態系統，目前市場上適用iPad的app種類要比適用Windows系統設備的app要多很多，這就讓蘋果產品占了上風。微軟平板產品的全球銷量和市場份額均遠低于蘋果產品，今年第一季度蘋果iPad銷量達1950萬，而微軟平板銷量只有90萬。

Microsoft has launched a US marketing offer for people to exchange "gently used" iPads for Microsoft products such as Surface tablets.

Microsoft has launched a US marketing offer for people to exchange "gently used" iPads for Microsoft products such as Surface tablets.

The company is offering at least a $200 token to go towards products such as the Surface RT and the Surface Pro.

Microsoft is far behind Apple in terms of global tablet sales and market share.

One US-based analyst expressed doubts that many people would swap their iPad for a Microsoft product.

"Do I think that many people will take [Microsoft] up on this offer? In a word, no," said Gartner mobile device analyst Van Baker. "The app ecosystem is the problem for Microsoft and this offer doesn't fix that problem."

There was a far greater range of mobile apps available for iPads than for Windows devices, giving Apple a competitive edge, said Mr Baker.

Microsoft has been engaged in an aggressive US marketing campaign to try to tempt Apple iPad users to buy Windows-based tablets.

In May, Microsoft launched an iPad v Windows comparison website, coupled with head-to-head advertising campaigns.

Microsoft has experienced problems trying to sell Surface devices.

In the first quarter of this year, Apple shipped 19.5 million iPads, compared with 900,000 Microsoft tablets.

In the second quarter, Microsoft shipped only 300,000 Surface devices, technology publication CiteWorld said.

Although Microsoft announced a revenue of $853 million on Surface sales in its latest financial regulatory filing, the company took a $900 million loss after failing to shift Surface RT devices.

Microsoft's $200 (￡150) gift certificate offer is valid in its bricks and mortar stores. A Surface RT tablet costs $349, and a Surface Pro retails at $799.

(Source: BBC News)

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（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）