VOA常速英语2015--移动应用给消费者更多选择

Growth In On Demand Apps Means More Choice for Consumers 移动应用给消费者更多选择

LOS ANGELES—

There is a growing number of applications that can be downloaded onto mobile devices that offer a wide range of on-demand services to make life more convenient.  From finding a ride, to getting an in-home massage 1, just one button on a phone can make it all happen. Los Angeles is the home to many of the companies developing on-demand apps.  

Samuel Davis came to Los Angeles for a shot at showbiz.  When he’s not on stage, he’s in his truck.

萨缪尔·戴维斯来洛杉矶参加娱乐活动，当他不在舞台上时，就在他的卡车里。

“I’m really into improv and comedy and acting 2 whatnot, so whenever I’m not doing that I want to try and make some extra money in my spare time," said Davis.

“我很喜欢即兴表演、喜剧等，所以当我不表演的时候我就想努力在空闲时间多挣点钱。”

The extra money comes from being a driver for a business called Buddytruk.  It’s a mobile application that connects a user to a local driver or “buddy” who owns a truck nearby to help the user move something.  On average, the truck will be at the designated location in less than half an hour, says founder 3 Brian Foley.

这额外的收入来自为Buddytruk公司做司机，这是一个移动应用，能连接用户到当地司机或是附近有卡车的人，来帮助用户搬运东西。成立者布莱恩·福里说，一般来说卡车会在指定地点停留不到半小时。

“Business is going well.  We’ve had a great response. We’ve grown over 1000% year to date.  2000% since we launched so we’re really excited," said Foley.

“年初到现在我们实现了超过1000%的增长，从成立到现在实现了2000%的增长，我们真的很高兴。”

Furniture store West Elm Santa Monica offers Buddytruk as an option for its customers, says General Manager Stacy Johnson.

“I mean they were just so much more affordable 4. It’s on demand and so it’s very convenient for our clients," said Johnson.

Buddytruk is one of a growing number of mobile apps that offer on-demand services.   They range from ride-sharing services and food deliveries to home massages 5, like Soothe 6. Merlin Kauffman founded the massage company in 2013, and says in less than 12 months, it has grown to operate in 13 cities.

目前有越来越多能提供按需服务的移动应用，Buddytruk就是其中之一。这些服务包括拼车服务、食品递送和Soothe这样的家庭按摩。这家按摩公司是2013年创立的，在不到12个月的时间内已经发展到13个城市。

“I think it’s about accessibility and the ability to get something and be instantly gratified. Uber kind of set the trend in that direction and it’s become the new expected norm," said Kauffman.

“我想这就让客户能够获得所需服务并得到满足，可以说Uber引导了这个趋势，目前这已成为新期待的标准。”

Michael Hammond uses Soothe for massages, and has many other on demand apps on his phone.

“You press a button and the money is taken care of. The transportation is taken care of, and the delivery is taken care of and then an hour later, less than an hour, you receive whatever you want," said Hammond.

“只需按下按钮，你的资金、出行和快递都能得到满足，一个小时后，或者不到一个小时后，你就能收到想要的东西。”

Around the world, more people have smart phones than ever before, and they are more willing to share information in exchange for services, says technology management expert Terry Kramer.  

技术管理专家特里·克莱默说，从全球范围来看拥有智能手机的人会以前更多。

“We’re in this perfect storm for this dramatic growth in on-demand apps," said Kramer.

“我们处在按需应用快速发展的完美风暴中。”

New technologies make on demand services possible.

“As the millennial 7 generation kind of ages and is used to more technology - they’re digital natives etcetera - I think you’ll find more and more usage there and then outside the US, massive interest," said Kramer.

他说，随着用于开发移动应用的新技术使得按需服务变成可能，人们更愿意分享服务方面的信息。

While the on-demand apps industry is still in its early stages, Kramer says it is disrupting business for traditional brick and mortar 8 stores.  He predicts two possible outcomes.

尽管这个行业仍在初创阶段，克莱默说按需应用已经打乱了传统的实体商店，他预测有两个可能的结果。

“There’s a clever way to incorporate these offerings into more traditional offerings. The second one can be disaster, which is brick and mortar can eventually go away," he said.

“有一个明智的办法是将这些服务一体化，使之成为更传统的服务，第二种办法可能是灾难性的，那就是实体商店会最终消失。”

Entrepreneurs say mobile apps offering on demand services will continue to provide consumers with ever more choices, giving people more time to do what they want.

企业家们称，能提供按需服务的移动应用将继续为消费者提供更多选择，让人们有时间做自己想做的事。