Reinventing the Millennium

Google raised the price from 80 million to 85 million.

Fang Zhuo learned the news from Rubin immediately, and Rubin also described the negotiation meeting involving Google's core executives.

He seriously considered the situation before him. On the one hand, he summoned the executive team of Yike America to come to San Francisco to express his sincerity. On the other hand, he once again asked Sandel, Stringer, and Li Jitai to sit down to formally discuss the acquisition of Android Company.

The result of the formal negotiation was still unsatisfactory. The closed-door meeting with only four people continued the style of the last time. What everyone wanted to discuss was not the acquisition price, but whether the acquisition was necessary.

But for Android companies, Rubin's attitude is that in the face of a market value that exceeds twice the original price, he has crossed out the former from the investment/acquisition options.

Such drastic changes in conditions make it difficult to reach consensus at meetings of the four alliances.

On the evening of April 13, Yike’s executive team arrived in San Francisco one after another. Regardless of the possibility of cooperation, more executives from the other three companies also arrived at the hotel.

"These families are so difficult to deal with."

"It turns out that without meat that can be smelled and smelled clearly in front of them, it is difficult for them to take another step forward."

"Even if there is pressure from market dominance like Nokia, even if there is strong interest from Google on the side."

Fang Zhuo said angrily to Yu Hong in the room while smoking.

"If you want to make an acquisition, you have to spend a lot of money. If you spend a lot of money, you may have to continue to invest manpower and material resources. After investing the manpower and material resources, you may have to promote the expansion of the Android system." Yu Hong said, "Change I'm Motorola, and it's not easy for me to make a decision."

She thought for a while and said, "Besides, what you see is a situation where they cannot agree on the same thing. They also see the same situation, which will further weaken their motivation to go further."

Fang Zhuo nodded silently.

Indeed, even outsiders Larry and Sergey can tell that this alliance is full of contradictions. Only when they are actually in it do they know that the cracks between each other are deeper than looking at them.

He breathed out: "There is another situation today. I think Samsung Lee Ki-tae's performance is not quite right."

Yu Hong asked: "What's wrong?"

"The exchanges between him and Sandel are not very active anymore." Fang Zhuo described the situation at today's meeting.

Yu Hong: "..."

Fang Zhuo sighed: "Stringer is still very energetic. Because he lacks Li Jitai's firepower, I have to fill the gap."

"Now I'm a little curious about the scene of your meeting." Yu Hong couldn't laugh or cry.

"This is the most authentic description." Fang Zhuo recalled for a few seconds and was sure that this was the case. He shook his head and said, "I don't know what has changed about Lee Ji-tae. It may be that Google contacted him again, or it may be that there is a better one within Samsung." After all, their R\u0026D capabilities are good, but they are indeed in danger now."

"How about we contact Google first and vote before they surrender?" Yu Hong asked.

Fang Zhuo hesitated. On the one hand, he had already made a gesture. On the other hand, he wanted to have a position or reputation to promote the development of the Android system.

He couldn't remember exactly when Android came out, but it was definitely later than Apple.

If it is too late, of course there will be no problems with the Android ecosystem, but Yike will suffer first.

This is one of the reasons why it took so much effort.

The progress of Android cannot be controlled only by Google. At least it can push it and try to promote it with legitimate ideas. As for the alternative competition caused by other factors later, that is a matter for later.

Make the cake first, make the big cake first, then eat the cake and defend the cake.

Yu Hong could see Mr. Fang's silent answer. She thought for a moment and asked, "If Samsung changes, can this manufacturer alliance be maintained? Will Google or Google + Samsung quickly reach an acquisition agreement with Android?"

Fang Zhuo thought carefully for a while and replied: "We may still be able to maintain it barely, but without Samsung, Google will definitely stick to its judgment. Our alliance is only superficial."

"They will not reach an acquisition soon. Although Google is strong..."

Fang Zhuo paused. Well, although Google is strong, it is not as strong as it was later.

"It must also consider the possibility of cooperating with mobile phone manufacturers in the future. The market positions of Sony Ericsson mobile phones and Motorola are here. If you were a company that wanted to build a mobile operating system, would you hate such a potential partner?"

"If Samsung changes, not only will it not be able to complete the acquisition quickly, but it will also be in a stalemate for a while. Google will need to do a lot of communication and guarantees."

He finally added: "Of course, whether there is a stalemate or not in that situation largely depends on my attitude. It depends on whether I will slow down the defeat after the stalemate, or whether I will admit a quick defeat immediately."

Yu Hong pondered over an idea that suddenly popped into her mind.

Fang Zhuo pondered the Android phone and said energetically: "If it's not all satisfactory, don't be afraid. What we are doing now is a high expectation. If we don't start from where Yike is now, we will seek a position to compete with Apple." , Android phones are also a very good outlet.”

"We don't lack the courage to start from scratch and...friends."

Today, even if Yike is hit by another dimension, the environment will not be the same.

Do you know so many investment friends for nothing?

"Consider defeat before you think about victory, right?" Yu Hong expressed her thoughts, "Since the four alliances may be facing collapse, can we bring in a new potential collaborator? From this situation, at least If we don’t fall behind, no matter what problems Samsung or Motorola have, we can continue to show our muscles.”

Fang Zhuo stared into Xiao Yu's eyes and guessed this so-called "new potential collaborator" from her slightly smiling eyes. He frowned and spit out its name: "Nokia?"

He shook his head slightly: "There is still hope that Motorola and Samsung can sit at the negotiating table. How can we bring in external pressure like Nokia? It's like, like..."

"It's like an old guy applying to join NATO."

Yu Hong patiently recounted her thoughts: "No, we don't need to ask Nokia to talk about a mobile phone operating system that may subvert its Symbian, but let Google see a suspected possibility, which is to muddy the water and show off the hardware. The alliance’s muscle is here to force Google to step up its efforts to talk to you.”

Fang Zhuo questioned: "Let Google believe that Nokia is looking for other competitors to jointly create a mobile phone system that eliminates its own market advantage? Can this be suspicious?"

Yu Hong spoke eloquently: “It’s not like no one at Sony originally proposed a player based on Internet music formats, but they were pushed back by people with louder internal voices. It’s normal for a giant to have different voices. We are not asking Nokia to When it comes to take charge, like an $85 million acquisition, it only accounts for a very small $1 million. Can you be sure that Nokia’s president, Kallasvuo Kallasvuo, is not a far-sighted leader?”

She continued: "If Google, a search engine developer, can consider the mobile phone operating platform in the mobile era, how can it be sure that Nokia President Michael Kovrig is not willing to promote the system to be smarter and freer?"

"That's Nokia, the overlord of mobile phones. It's so normal to eat from the bowl and look at the pot."

"Who stipulates that overlords cannot be interested in new systems from outside?"

"Even if it is 99% not interested, isn't there a 1% possibility to develop more advanced and intelligent systems?"

"We don't need to call in Nokia's President Michael Kovrig. There are already four companies in San Francisco. They are planning an industry conference to invite their executives to attend, just to show it to people from Google."

"Besides, whether Google believes it or not may also depend on how they view you."

"You've already brought Sony, Samsung, and Motorola, so it doesn't seem unusual to get another Nokia."

Fang Zhuo followed Xiao Yu's thinking and considered Google's reaction. If Nokia really entered the market, who would the Android company prefer to be acquired by?

He shook his head slowly.

Yu Hong asked with some disappointment: "Why don't you try to muddy the water?"

"This is as ridiculous as Nokia inviting someone from Microsoft back to be its president, and then being acquired by Microsoft under the leadership of the president." Fang Zhuo said, shaking his head.

Yu Hong felt that the analogy hypothesis mentioned by Mr. Fang was quite ridiculous, and she began to think of other methods.

"That's it, but since we want to muddy the water, let's add one more thing and find Wall Street reporters to let the news out." Fang Zhuo said, "Now the big guys from Motorola, Samsung, Sony, Yike, and Google are all working for a small business." Companies coming together, isn’t that the best tech news?”

"Mix Nokia's name into it, adulterate it, and then use the name of an industry conference."

"Well, let's make the industry conference real. Now that everyone is here, let Stringer, Li Jitai, and Sander talk about what the future of smartphones will look like. Everyone should talk freely about this mobile phone system."

"Prescribing the right medicine will not solve the problem. Let's try beating the old master to death with random punches."

Fang Zhuo finalized the plan.

The people and places for industry conferences are readily available. So many companies in San Francisco and Silicon Valley can just find guests and it will be a decent industry conference.

Since the four parties can't reach an agreement in closed-door meetings, let's talk freely.

The plan was finalized, and Yu Hong went to implement it urgently. Nokia did not need to find President Kallasvuo. It would be better to invite a senior vice president. Since he had a certain status, he could not really decide anything.

At 10:30 in the evening, Fang Zhuo first negotiated with Stringer, then went to Li Jitai, and finally informed Sandel that a mobile phone industry conference would be held in Silicon Valley, and there would be people from Nokia.

The theme of the conference is-the future of smartphones.

Stringer didn't think anything of the meeting that was suddenly finalized, but both Li Jitai and Sandel had other thoughts.

As the president of Samsung Electronics, Lee Ki-tae has a bad temper when quarreling these days, but he does increasingly feel that the Android system has good feasibility, and has more ideas about the rough four-company alliance.

However, the idea was stopped by voices from within South Korea.

Samsung head Lee Kun-hee’s orders are something he cannot disobey.

Lee Ki-tae asked the reason.

Li Jianxi gave a clear and somewhat unexpected reply.

"A mobile phone operating system that aims to be open source does not require Samsung to acquire it. Android needs Samsung, not Samsung needs Android."

"Samsung's development is very good. We don't have to cooperate with competitors to avoid uncertainties."

"Fang Zhuo of Yike has formed an alliance of TV manufacturers in China with the purpose of attacking Samsung's panel business. He and Samsung will not be friends."

Li Jitai inexplicably felt that the boss gave Fang Zhuo a small gift in return for the last reason. Panels are also one of Samsung's core businesses. If you formed an alliance to mess with me, then I will also break up the alliance to mess with you.

But no matter what, Samsung Electronics will not continue.

What Li Jitai was thinking about now was just how to stab the knife harder, and the sudden news about the industry meeting made him a little worried about whether he would be noticed.

Compared with Lee Kit Tae's complex thoughts, Motorola's Sandel has only one idea.

"Is this guy from Nokia here to steal my position as alliance leader?"

…

Although the impromptu industry conference was unexpected, the invitation of the audience, the participation of guests, and the attendance of the media were all carried out in an orderly manner under the arrangement of Vice President Yu Hong.

Google's Larry and Sergey also received invitations.

The meeting time is two days later, on April 15, at three o'clock in the afternoon.

Larry discussed it with Sergey immediately after receiving the invitation. He didn't understand the purpose of having an industry conference at this time.

He originally planned to hold a three-party meeting with the Android company and the four alliances. On such an occasion, Lee Kitai of Samsung Electronics would express his attitude, and then communicate with Fang Zhuo privately to inform him of Motorola's actions.

"What does he want to do?"

Larry was confused.

Sergey was also confused: "It has nothing to do with the overall situation. Since Samsung is willing to talk to us, the initiative lies with Google. The only thing now is whether Fang Zhuo can endure the small actions of Motorola and Apple behind the scenes, but even if He wants to endure it, but whether people like Sandel are willing to live together peacefully is another question."

Larry recalled his communication with Sandel and nodded with deep understanding.

While the two of them were discussing, a more detailed guest list was sent over.

Larry glanced at it casually, and his eyes suddenly stopped on a name.

Davis, executive vice president of Nokia.

"Why are there people from Nokia?" Larry was extremely surprised.

Sergey took over the list and found that Nokia's name was clearly ranked after Samsung and even before Yike.

He was surprised and laughed: "Is this a meeting for Nokia to come and see what its competitors are doing?"

Larry felt that something was wrong. Since this industry conference was dominated by four alliances, why should one of the largest competitors in the market come at a critical moment when they were discussing the acquisition of mobile phone systems?

But it would be a bit bizarre to say that this is turning four alliances into five alliances.

"Fang Zhuo wants Nokia to also participate in the acquisition? How is this possible?" Larry complained.

"There is absolutely no way Nokia will give up Symbian!" Sergey made a conclusive judgment.

Larry shook his head: "I think Fang Zhuo is crazy."

He took the list again and looked through it, shook his head again, then took out his cell phone and started looking for numbers.

"Who to call?" Sergey asked.

"Ask Fang Zhuo what he wants to do." Larry replied.

Sergey felt that the co-founder was also infected.

The call was answered quickly.

Larry asked bluntly, asking the purpose of Nokia's appearance this time.

Fang Zhuo's answer was extremely relaxed.

"The four alliances may not be competitive enough. I thought about it, maybe I can change it with small change."

"Nokia is not sure if it can participate. It doesn't hurt to give it a try."

"After all, it is a brand that occupies 40% of the mobile phone market. If it is willing to promote the development of mobile phone systems, it will be great for the industry."

“That’s exactly what this industry conference is about.”

The call ends.

Sergey asked: "Do you believe what he said?"

"Don't believe it." Larry shook his head, "But since he is so honest, I only believe it a little bit. It doesn't matter whether I believe it or not. The important thing is that we should end this acquisition negotiation."

Sergey felt that Larry still believed it.

"Since he is going to hold an industry meeting, let's have an honest chat with each other about whether there are any better cooperation possibilities under this industry meeting."

"If possible, we will cooperate. If not, we will immediately recruit Samsung or poach people from Android companies to develop our own products."

I should be able to code out a chapter.

I just saw that there is an extra alliance leader. Thank you [Mixun Qingfeng] for your love. I will make up for what I owe first and then add more...