Reborn Tokyo Golden Age

After hearing Bai Chuanfeng's question, IBM's Louis straightened up and took another look at the neon man opposite him.

This direct way of negotiating is very different from the neon he imagined.

No, you can't say that either. At least the other party raised this question after dispelling IBM's idea of ​​monopolizing the CD drive.

Is this the Eastern way of negotiating wisdom? It's really interesting.

"Okay." Louis spread his palms, then turned his head and greeted, "Daily, help prepare a few cups of coffee. Mr. Bai Chuan and I have something to talk about. Please don't let anyone disturb us, thank you."

After the assistant who was twisting his butt walked away, Louis looked at Robert beside him again.

"Robert, tell me, what problems do CD-ROMs need to solve in the process of popularization? Or what needs to be improved?"

Instead of answering Bai Chuanfeng's question directly, Louis asked Robert, the technical director, to talk about the popularization of CD storage.

Regarding his actions, Bai Chuanfeng was noncommittal and just watched the changes.

Instead, Robert immediately took a few documents from his side, and then spread them out to explain them one by one.

Obviously during this time, IBM is not doing nothing.

"If you want to push it to computer users all over the world in the first place, then standardization is the necessary way.

Please note that the standardization mentioned here refers to the standardization of the optical drive.

After all, as a carrier of information, Mr. Shirakawa has already completed the specifications of CD-ROM discs first.

CD-ROM plus CD-ROM is a complete whole.

As for the optical drive that Mr. Shirakawa demonstrated on stage, if I'm not mistaken, it should be quite rough.

Interface, size, scanning speed, software and hardware support, etc., all of these must have a unified specification in order to be supported by computer hardware suppliers.

Otherwise, believe me, the future optical drive market will definitely become a mess. "

After Robert finished speaking in one breath, Louis picked up the coffee and took a sip slowly.

"Mr. Shirakawa, this is what IBM can do for the promotion of CD storage, and this is what IBM wants."

Bai Chuanfeng understood what the other party meant, and what IBM wanted was really extraordinary.

What Lewis meant could not be more obvious. IBM can help Shirakawa Electric gather most of the computer hardware suppliers in the world, and everyone will sit down and formulate the standard for optical drives.

As long as this thing is done, then there will be no worries about the popularity of CD-ROM in the future.

IBM has this strength and calls on the entire computer industry to formulate standards, and only IBM can do this.

So what does IBM want? Participate in the development of standards!

Participating in the formulation of standards means that IBM will be able to collect patent fees for optical drives in the future.

All the hardware manufacturers that join in will have to pay a patent fee for each CD-ROM drive they produce.

And IBM, which has become one of the standard makers of optical drives, has the right to get a share of this patent fee.

Who invented the optical drive? Shirakawa Electric.

Who Invented the CD-ROM? Shirakawa Electric.

But so what, IBM can also pay nothing, and then sit and collect patent fees.

No, IBM used its prestige and appeal to help Shirakawa Electric formulate relevant standards.

The patent fee is the remuneration he wants to get from the CD-ROM storage, which is a peer-to-peer transaction.

As a unique giant in the computer industry, what it wants is far from a certain fixed remuneration, what it wants is higher-end and has more say.

As for other manufacturers, are they willing to pay the patent fee?

There is no doubt that the 700MB capacity compared to the 700KB floppy disk is definitely a blow and shock at the level of a nuclear bomb.

Otherwise, as the inventor of the floppy disk, IBM would not have made a fuss and actively promoted CD storage.

Because he knows in his heart that the gap between the two cannot be bridged.

Again, technology cannot be killed. From the day it comes out, it is destined to shine in the world.

Of course, there will also be a transition period from floppy disks to CDs. After all, the current CD does not have the rewritable function.

After understanding the other party's plan, Bai Chuanfeng was also very tangled in his heart.

The reason why he came to secretly meet with the people from IBM regardless of the neon public opinion at this time was because of their strong appeal in computers?

Originally, Bai Chuanfeng planned to produce CD-ROM drives by Baidian, and then supply them to IBM, so that the CD-ROM drives could be mounted on the other party's computers.

In this case, Baichuan Electric's optical drive can be popularized soon.

After all, it is IBM, and there are too many manufacturers following him. I believe that with him taking the lead, the popularization of optical drives will be greatly accelerated.

At that time, while earning money for the finished product of the optical drive, Baichuan Electric will license it to overseas companies and pay patent fees.

After all, it is the global market, and it is impossible for the Baichuan Electric family to swallow it all.

Especially when you are still weak, eating alone is a big taboo for businesses. It's easy to become the target of public criticism, and you may not get anything in the end.

But even so, this will definitely be Baichuan Electric's money printing machine in the next ten or twenty years.

But it's clear that IBM also knows what it's worth, and they want more.

Bai Chuanfeng knew that with the help of IBM, the promotion of CD-ROM would definitely spread rapidly.

But the patent fee was shared, not to mention, a part of the relevant discourse power was also taken away.

This is the technology giant IBM, and Bai Chuanfeng doesn't know if the other party will create a better existence after getting the relevant information.

But if you reject IBM, you don't have to think about counting on it to promote CD storage.

If the other party makes a trip, it is enough for Baichuan Electric to drink a pot.

After thinking about it again and again, Bai Chuanfeng put aside his entanglement and decided to check the other party's tone first.

"Mr. Lewis, we admire IBM's appeal in the computer field.

So, what is the return that IBM wants for the standardization of optical drives? "

"50%" Louis offered without hesitation.

Hearing the other party's offer, Bai Chuanfeng shook his head, "Mr. Louis, IBM's offer is not sincere.

In the research and development of CD-ROM and optical drive, Shirakawa Electric invested heavily and took a long time.

After countless failures, today's results are achieved.

I believe that as a research and development enterprise, IBM can understand the difficulties. "

"Mr. Shirakawa, it is precisely because IBM understands the value of technology that it offers this reasonable price.

Believe me, with IBM on board, no one will dare to infringe on the interests of optical disc storage.

50% of the patent fee, in exchange for a broader market, is absolutely worth the money. "

Louis still cocked his knees, sipping his coffee slowly. He has enough patience to deal with this negotiation.

More importantly, according to IBM's survey, the opponent's influence in the computer industry is almost zero.

Such a company that is harmless to humans and animals and holds good things in its hands. It would be a pity not to kill a few knives.

As for the cooperation between the other party and Neon's local computer company, hey~ Neon's computer is also worthy of being compared with IBM?

In addition to copying openly, it is copying secretly. In the eyes of IBM, neon computers have never entered their eyes.

Facing IBM's appearance of being determined by himself, Bai Chuanfeng sighed in his heart.

It's still too weak. Even if the sovereignty of the optical drive is preserved, most of the benefits are lost.

If IBM takes 50% of the patent share, can Shirakawa Electric get the remaining half?

Of course not, don't forget the two hurdles that CD technology can't get around, Sony and Philips.

Even if they did not participate in the research and development of CD-ROM, according to the original agreement, they still have to share part of the benefits.

This also means that if Bai Chuanfeng agrees to IBM's conditions, it is very likely that he will get the least benefit in the end.

After deliberating for a long time, Bai Chuanfeng raised his head and gave his answer.

"Mr. Lewis, 15% is our bottom line."

Louis, who was sitting across from the sofa, shook his head regretfully and said nothing.

"In that case, I will visit Mr. Louis some other day."

Seeing the other party's tough attitude, Bai Chuanfeng knew that there would be no substantial progress today.

So he, who was entangled in all kinds of things, simply left first.

For their departure, Louis remained indifferent while sitting on the sofa.

It wasn't until the other party opened the door to leave that he put down the coffee in his hand and began to think carefully.

"Louis, are we really going to insist on this price? First of all, I need to remind that the advantage of CD-ROM is too great.

One day in the future, it will definitely replace the floppy disk and become the mainstream of the new generation of storage. "

After sending Bai Chuanfeng and the others away, Robert immediately discussed with his boss the price he had just offered to Bai Chuan Electric.

As a person with a technical background, he is very clear that before the incomparable technical advantages, any obstacles become meaningless.

"Robert, it's because of its advantages over floppy disks that we're trying to grab it.

The opponent has almost no cards to play in the computer field, and believe me, they will succumb.

Besides, in addition to floppy disks, we also have hard disks. It has a broader future than the former, and it will definitely not lag behind.

The reason why IBM has become a giant is because we have taken the most precious pearl every time. "

Obviously, Louis and Robert look at problems in completely different directions. He pays more attention to long-term interests and the cornerstone of IBM.

Although the negotiation with IBM was not very smooth, Bai Chuanfeng was not in a hurry to seek success for the time being.

CD-ROM has just been launched, and it will take a while to ferment.

Moreover, the design on the optical drive is indeed too rough, and more fine adjustments are needed.

As for negotiations, just talk slowly. It just so happened that the factory in Chiba hadn't been built yet, and there was no room for an optical drive for the time being.

Shirakawa Electric's quiet period of listing has not yet ended, but throughout August, it has always maintained some kind of contact with IBM.

However, since then, Bai Chuanfeng has never appeared in person, and Louis has returned to the United States for the time being.

Negotiations between the two seem to have stalled.

But in fact, as long as we keep in touch, we will understand each other, and we will continue to talk together later.

Taking advantage of this vacant period, Bai Chuanfeng's club affairs were not idle, nor was his personal work left behind.

This should not be a little Huya's request, he came to satisfy her little vanity again tonight.

Inside the black Toyota Century across the road from TV Asahi, Shirakawa Kaede was leisurely drinking ice soda.

Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared from the TV station building.

Hey, isn't this an ashtray?

Seeing him, Bai Chuanfeng seemed to think of something, so he picked up the car phone and started dialing a certain number.

"Ota, what happened to the last time I asked you to check? Okay, I'm opposite TV Asahi in Minato-ku, so you can see me here"