网络效应与即时通讯市场支配地位的认定

Identif ication of Network Effect and the Dominant Market Position of Instant Messaging Industry

网络效应的本义在于产品或者服务的销售量越大,其对于用户的价值就越大。由此引发的问题是,对于现有用户来讲,网络效应是否会增加用户的转换成本,进而锁定用户;对于新进入企业而言,网络效应是否会形成一种竞争上的障碍,从而阻止其进入即时通讯市场。通过分析网络效应对于用户转换供应商以及供应进入市场的影响,证明了网络效应并不必然导致即时通讯企业的市场支配地位。

The original meaning of the Network Effect is that the greater sales quantity of products or services is the greater value for the users would be. The consequent problem is that, for the existing users, whether the Network Effect would increase the user＇s cost of transfer, and then lock the user. And for those start-up companies, whether the Network Effect would form a competition barrier, and thereby prevent them from entering the instant messaging market. Through the analysis of the impact of the Network Effect for users and enterprises, this paper ascertains the function of Network Effects for identifying the dominant market position of the instant messaging industry.