I ask you to build tractors, but you build rockets?

Nasdaq, the U.S. stock market is experiencing another unprecedented crisis.

Intel's surge is just a very small example of the market and a completely unexpected result.

After all, Intel itself has always wanted to get rid of its physical business and planned to focus only on IC design.

Chip factories are indeed high-tech, but sometimes they do not necessarily represent high profits. Successful examples like Tai Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. have certain accidents. For Intel, doing industry is solid and hard work. In the later years of the original world line , they kept selling the chip factories in their hands.

However, no one expected that due to the changes in TSMC, Intel would temporarily become the only high-end process supplier. Even if the overall market was pessimistic and downward, Intel still bucked the trend and rose.

However, other companies are not so lucky. Whether it is practical factors or external influences, Taichi Microelectronics is likely to be unable to supply normally in the short term, which almost means that they have no goods to sell.

No matter how good the product is, you have to sell it!

Now, Cook is facing this annoying problem.

iPhoneX was released last year, and the next generation is planned for next year, so there is no rush for new products for the time being.

However, the iPhone

There is also the iPad Pro 2018, which will be released next month. Mainland motherboard, casing and other foundries have entered the stock-up period, but the chip inventory is only a few hundred thousand. If you throw it out, it will be gone without a splash. .

As long as Apple doesn't want to lose its reputation, Cook can't hold a press conference under such circumstances.

"Ternus, how is the situation over there?"

Cook looked at Chief Hardware Engineer Ternus, who was also extremely depressed:

"It's not good. Although the factory was not damaged, the riots caused by the personnel caused the production to basically stop. And even if these chips continue to be produced, I'm afraid we won't be able to get them and install them on our products."

Ternus' tone was more tactful, but Cook could immediately tell what he was worried about, and it was not unreasonable.

There is almost no hope of continuing to deliver in a short period of time, and this is a problem that must be recognized.

"Where's Intel? Can Intel think of a way?"

Turnus still shook his head:

"A12X is a 7nm process, and Intel's 10nm process has just been successfully developed. The theoretical transistor density is equivalent to TSMC 7nm, but it is basically not universal, and the reliability has not been verified.

But the biggest problem is that they have no production capacity. I have asked about it, and Pat said that they will prepare to fully expand the process in the second half of the year for the 10th generation Core released next year, and there is no available production line at all.

If we need it, we can start scheduling production as soon as April 2019. "

"In 6 months? Are we going to have to wait 6 months to use their shit?"

Cook was a little angry, but Ternus continued to hit:

"And it's high-priced bullshit technology. Pat revealed to me that Intel plans to re-enter the mobile terminal and hopes to invest in us or acquire some patents..."

"Let these sons of bitches dream!"

Cook certainly knows what those people are thinking. Ever since the emergence of smartphones, Blue Factory has been thinking about entering the mobile terminal. It has released mobile processors and communication basebands. Later, it was unable to compete with Qualcomm, so it angrily reduced its investment.

Note that it has not stopped. Intel will always have its sights on the mobile market. Now major mobile phone chip manufacturers are about to face an unprecedented chip shortage. If they don't take advantage of it, it would be a mistake for this god-given opportunity.

For Intel, there are indeed some problems with production capacity and process, but they are not fatal. The next generation Core uses the newly put into production 10nm process. There is still a lot of capacity squeezed below this process.

Moreover, 10nm production capacity is temporarily idle for seven or eight months. According to Intel's own thinking, their 10nm process can fully compete with Taichi Semiconductor's 7nm, and there is no problem.

It just so happens that these seven months will be the weakest time for several major mobile terminal manufacturers. Intel has already been in operation under the encouragement of old Morgan and is ready to fight.

"No, we can't sit back and wait."

Cook stood up and walked around behind his desk. After a while, he made up his mind:

"Prepare the aircraft immediately, and we must not give up Taichi's production capacity. Without Taichi, we will have no goods to sell in the future!"

Turnus: "But just in case..."

Cook: “Do investors also want to watch a technology company with a market value of more than one trillion US dollars cease operations, with a lot of designs but no application?

Even if we find another supplier, it will take at least several months from receiving the order to putting it into production. We simply don’t have that much inventory on hand! "

Just half a month ago (one and a half months later than the original world line), Apple's market value had just exceeded one trillion, becoming the most valuable technology company, and it was in the limelight for a while.

Of course, now its market value has fallen again, and all executives are trying to figure out how to save the situation.

Cook believes that those people know how to choose. Even though many people used to clamor to blow up TSMC, isn't it good now?

And if it is bombed, just a few major technology companies will chase it to the ends of the earth.

In the free world, nothing is more important than a beautiful knife!

No matter what the rules are, you need to make concessions in front of making money!

…

Capital International Airport.

Steve Mollenkopf hurriedly got off the plane, looking like an ordinary tourist in a hurry.

As the leader of Qualcomm, he had no spectacular entourage, no welcoming officials, no reporters and cameras, nothing.

He and several executives and their corresponding assistants hurriedly booked the fastest flight and flew to Beijing with the most anxious mentality.

Steve walked in front and saw several officials wandering around the tarmac, several of whom looked familiar.

A smile appeared on his face instantly, and he said to the secretary:

"Although we came in a hurry, we still got the courtesy we deserved. That's great. This is really good news, but they seem to be standing in the wrong place, but it doesn't matter. We have to go there quickly."

However, the secretary was obviously not so optimistic. He frowned and looked over there for a few times, and then saw several figures in work clothes.

Printed on the work clothes was: Intel (Hua).

He quickly stopped the president's actions and told him that they were here to welcome the Blue Factory. Steve's face suddenly became a little unbelievable.

"Why are they here? The bulky X86 does not require high-end production capacity. They can produce it in their own small workshop."

The secretary thought about it and said uncertainly:

"Maybe... they want Taiji Semiconductor to not return to normal so quickly?"

"Oh! Shit! Come with me!"