Reinventing the Millennium

The flight from Beijing to New York takes up to 14 hours.

But Fang Zhuo was very energetic all the way.

As the chairman of Sina, he mostly communicates with President Wang Yan, but from time to time he also sees business reports and analyzes signed by members of the inspection team.

Like Cao Guowei, who came from PricewaterhouseCoopers and played a big role in Sina's listing. If Wang Yan's fate had not been changed, he would have been the president in charge of Sina.

Like Chen Tong, this is a more senior Sina person. He is not only the editor-in-chief, but also responsible for the core content business. It is worth mentioning that he is full of interest in sports. This time he was selected to go to the United States. His first reaction was to reconcile with Fang. Always made the request to go to Houston to watch the Rockets playoffs live.

Like Zhang Xiaolong, this is the product manager who was later taught by hundreds of millions of people how to build and optimize products. He was also the top domestic programmer who previously wrote code alone and completed the first three versions of Foxmail. Moreover, he always seems particularly silent now.

Fang Zhuo really chatted with these people all the way.

In addition to the development of Sina, the social networks that everyone always advocates are also full of interest in communication.

At this time, Fang Zhuo finally made a more thoughtful statement.

It is relatively easy to implement campus social networking on Xiaonei.com and planned white-collar social networking. However, with further universal social networking, the community atmosphere built by campus + office users is likely to be greatly impacted. This can be described as a thrilling and challenging leap.

Fang Zhuo showed great concern about this link in front of his own people.

"So how can Penguin solve this problem?" Cao Guowei thought of the competitors of Xiaonei.com.

"The school network now uses a real-name system and uses email to log in, while QQ alumni log in directly with chat software accounts. Its user review is much looser than that of the school network. This can certainly bring fast traffic resources, but in the future... Penguin will definitely spend a lot more energy to solve this problem." Fang Zhuo said, "I am curious about how Fb solves this problem."

This year, Facebook is also trying to democratize the user groups after continuously opening up the user groups of universities and high schools. Although Fang Zhuo feels that the user groups on both sides are very different, from the perspective of business development, he is also very curious about the way it solves the problem. .

Fang Zhuo briefly summarized: "Whether it's on campus or in the office, it addresses relatively familiar and closed social needs. But when it reaches the national stage, it transforms into a pan-social model, and the front and back are still relatively fragmented."

Most importantly, will this fragmented development encounter competition from other social products?

A group of Sina's senior executives are thinking about what Mr. Fang said. Some are thinking about "real-name system", some are considering "pan-social", and some are contacting Sina's current products.

After a while, Cao Guowei suddenly said: "I think our blog is quite pan-social, and we won't face any problems of fragmentation. We just want to bring it to more people's computers."

Chen Tong said: "Blogs are not like Xiaonei.com. Blogs now need to solve the problem of income. Relying solely on advertising income is still unsatisfactory."

Wang Yan also discussed: "In order to compete with Penguin, Xiaonei.com must restrain commercialization in its early development and focus on user growth. However, its future will also have the same problems as blogs, or in other words, similar problems have been plaguing it. Everyone."

In addition to traditional advertising revenue, whether it is wireless value-added or service value-added services, these are attempts to break through troubles in recent years, and Penguin's performance in this regard is undoubtedly extremely outstanding.

A few people had a small discussion and also mentioned the additional game business.

Fang Zhuo was not surprised to hear such an idea. Game revenue has accounted for an increasing proportion of the revenue of major Internet companies.

But for the school network, QQ alumni, and blogs, he reminded: "Games are okay, but they must be suitable for the context of social relationships. Only with targeted development can we see performance that may meet expectations."

The game was discussed briefly, but the topic of competing with the penguins continued during the second half of the flight to New York.

Everyone talked about Penguin’s performance in different fields, but in the final analysis it still falls at the root of its traffic.

The taciturn Zhang Xiaolong participated in the discussion on this topic and made a suggestion: "Since the early stage of the school network is to suppress commercialization and focus on user scale, and both campus and white-collar groups have natural internal correlation, then it is Can’t we try penguinization?”

Wang Yan, Cao Guowei and others did not understand the meaning of these words.

Fang Zhuo laughed and asked, "Are you saying that the Xiaonei Network is trying its best to expand the number of users, and then make software from web pages, similar to QQ, right?"

Zhang Xiaolong nodded seriously: "The software can not only refresh the information on the school network, but also provide users with instant messaging. Penguin can micro-innovate, and we can also learn from it. Mr. Fang, I think the school network will cost money to expand." If the user scale can really reach a certain level, we may not be able to try to divide Penguin’s traffic base.”

He didn't say defeat, but described it as "differentiation."

This is not a challenge from PC to mobile Internet, but directly at the PC level.

For a moment, because of Zhang Xiaolong's whimsical idea, a group of people were thinking. If they really want to launch an attack on Penguin in the field of instant messaging, it will definitely be a big job.

Fang Zhuo didn't think about it for too long. He looked at everyone's expressions and found that Cao Guowei was obviously ready to make a move.

He said: "Mr. Zhang, you are still the cool one. If the school network does this, no matter whether it succeeds or not, everyone in Penguin will be shocked, but..."

Fang Zhuo glanced at Wang Yan and continued: "Mr. Wang and I have talked about the development of the times. I think there will be more opportunities to follow the trend of the shift from computers to mobile phones in the next few years. From the creation of Penguin to the listing, We have accumulated a large enough scale advantage, and going against the trend will not be easy to succeed, and will divert our energy and resources from the next work."

"Everyone is aware of Penguin's traffic advantage. The real competition at this level will have to take place in the mobile Internet era."

Fang Zhuo's intention is already obvious, he can challenge Penguin, but not yet.

Zhang Xiaolong was not too disappointed when he heard this. He was just thinking about the development direction of social networks based on today's topic, and accidentally wanted to stab Penguin in the back.

"But Mr. Zhang's idea is not meaningless. Let's first see how the development of the school network will turn out. If that doesn't work, Sina's investment in the school network may not be a financial investment." Fang Zhuo said tactfully.

A group of people from Sina understood it.

Although Sina gives money to the team, the competition in the field of social networks is still separated by a layer. If things are not harmonious, Xiaonei.com will directly reverse the ecology and intimidate the penguins, and then it will be easier to negotiate acquisitions.

For Penguin, any attempt to touch its core traffic must be extremely vigilant.

In particular, if the school network can have a group of users and the Yike Department is standing behind it, then it must be carefully considered.

No matter what happens with this wave of competition, let’s lay a foundation first.

When he was about to land at New York Airport, Fang Zhuo said to Zhang Xiaolong after taking a rest: "Mr. Zhang, in addition to seeing the development of social networks here in the United States, I am also cooperating with Google on the research and development of mobile phone smart systems. In this regard, You can make some preparations."

Zhang Xiaolong responded.

During this time, I had been named by Mr. Fang to attend meetings several times. I thought he might have some ideas about the email business, but now it seems that he may have been involved in the preparation of the mobile Internet.

Zhang Xiaolong is not afraid of challenges. Instead, he feels that if the mobile Internet develops rapidly, it would be cool to compete with Penguin.

When the flight landed, Yike arranged a pick-up.

On this trip to the United States, the most important thing was to inspect the mobile phone project and the progress of the Android company, followed by the inspection of the development of social networks.

Judging from the information currently available, mobile phones are slower than expected.

As Apple's strategy changes, the progress it announced is faster than expected.

After all this, Fang Zhuo felt new pressure on the mobile phone business.

Fortunately, the MIGA fund in the United States sold Washington Mutual Bank's CDO guaranteed debt obligations after the last connection with Goldman Sachs, which is somewhat gratifying.

Stay at the hotel and rest for a day before confirming the inspection itinerary.

Later, Fang Zhuo waited for Ms. Yu Hong, the co-founder of Yike. Because he had greeted her in advance, she came over with a more detailed progress report.

"Why are you in such a good mood?" When Yu Hong came over, she found that Mr. Fang had a sincere smile on his face. According to her thoughts, the matter in the direction of the mobile phone might not make people happy.

"On domestic matters, Penguin must confront him." Fang Zhuo was still thinking about Zhang Xiaolong's proposal.

Although Yu Hong is abroad, she is also concerned about the domestic situation, especially the related trends of the Yi Department.

She asked strangely: "I saw that Penguin QQ Alumni advertised that the number of users exceeded 200,000 in one month? Isn't it going to block the school network?"

This is the right way to communicate with a team owner.

"The funds and team of Xiaonei Network have just been sorted out. Penguin is taking advantage of the situation to take the lead, and we will fight against each other later. I estimate that this business can last a year and a half, so there is no rush." ​​Fang Zhuo replied.

He motioned to Xiao Yu to drink tea while he read through the latest and most complete assessment.

The first is Android. Google intends to promote an open mobile phone alliance including terminals, operators and hardware manufacturers next year, aiming to develop a variety of technologies and significantly reduce the development and promotion costs of mobile devices and services.

This is certainly a good thing, but according to the information gathered, Apple's phone is likely to be released in the first half of next year.

If this is the case, Yike is likely to face a dilemma of being completely backward. This situation is not only determined by Yike itself, but also by the research and development of the Android system.

Secondly, the mobile phone R\u0026D center set up by Yike has made some good progress, because it is determined to make a full touch screen. There have been breakthroughs and applications for patents in this area, and the Japanese manufacturer Sharp's capacitive screen has also been quite successful.

Yu Hong knew the contents of the report very well. She looked at the pages that Mr. Fang was flipping through and said at the right time: "It is said, it is said that I accidentally communicated with Sharp. They may also be providing capacitive screens to Apple."

Fang Zhuo nodded slightly: "This is not surprising."

"No, Mr. Fang, it's strange. Apple probably has a capacitive screen design similar to ours. Do you know what this means?" Yu Hong frowned.

Fang Zhuo asked rhetorically: "Sharp's capacitive screen is close to mass production now, and Apple may release it in the first half of next year. It's not surprising that the hardware manufacturers choose to collide. Well, it would be nice if we could get more accurate news from this."

Yu Hong shook her head first. She tried, but Sharp followed the principle of confidentiality.

Then he said: "If Apple makes a capacitive full touch screen mobile phone, we will be even more passive in the future."

Fang Zhuo continued to scroll down and said calmly: "If Apple announces that it will join the Android camp, it will be a devastating passive. It's okay now. Even if it is announced early, there will definitely be time for official sales. In this way Thinking about it, I feel a little more at ease."

Apple's mobile phones are indeed doing well, but smartphones will have a confrontation between the iOS and Android camps.

Considering this aspect, as long as the Yike mobile phone can run faster than players in the same Android camp, it can accept passivity to a limited extent - there is nothing you can do if you don't accept it, but the blow will not become so heavy.

"You're kind-hearted." Yu Hong complained. She had frightened Apple before, but after that, something seemed wrong with the snake.

"It's not that I'm generous, I'm just thinking about what problems I'm encountering now and how to solve them." Fang Zhuo shook his head, "I will go to Google to urge them soon. At the very least, the Open Mobile Alliance should be established as early as possible. Some."

He thought for a while and then said: "I have new news that you don't know about the chips used in mobile phones."

Yu Hong listened carefully.

"Ice core has completed the risk mass production of 90nm. The progress is neither slow nor fast. Mr. Qiu is looking for Qualcomm to discuss foundry cooperation." Fang Zhuo said a linkage news, "If the foundry cooperation is concluded, Yike's mobile phones will Chips may be tied to Qualcomm in the next few years."

Yu Hong was still listening carefully.

After a while, she asked: "No? There is progress in the ice core. I understand, but what do you mean by this? Is it abnormal to use Qualcomm chips?"

Fang Zhuoheran: "It's normal. I just think that no matter how good Qualcomm is, it belongs to outsiders. It would be great if Morningstar Semiconductor could move to the mobile phone field and be able to design and develop in a more targeted manner."

Yu Hong knew the difficulty involved and said succinctly: "There is a long way to go."

Fang Zhuo nodded and reassured again: "Don't worry if it's later than Apple. We strive to be the first Android machine king."

Yu Hong thought about the word, Machine King, which sounds pretty good, but judging from the current objective conditions, this still needs great promotion from all aspects.