Reinventing the Millennium

The first week of April was calm.

Although Apple, which launched the iPhone this month, sued Korean mobile phone manufacturer LG, the two companies did not engage in public confrontation and were just quietly going through the legal process. There has been no news of mediation for the time being.

Fang Zhuo received the latest iPhone almost immediately.

However, he had been busy with the Yangtze River Delta Business Association for several days and made substantial promotion before he had the time to carefully experience the largest competitive product in the industry.

3G/Apple Store/Front Camera.

According to Fang Zhuo's evaluation at the Yike analysis meeting - "a work that makes up for shortcomings without any surprises."

Everyone knows what Apple wants to do, and that's what it does.

No surprises.

However, this does not mean that good market feedback will not be obtained.

Judging from the word-of-mouth reviews in the past few days since its release, apart from the widely criticized "expected", technology media, mobile phone reviews, and ordinary users almost all have positive reviews - "It has done a good job of making up for its shortcomings!"

Today, compared to the huge number of mobile phone users in the world, the iPhone and Mars touch-screen smartphones, which were launched less than a year ago, are still the latest trendy products, and their combined sales volume still only accounts for a small share.

Perhaps some users who are paying attention to the development of the mobile phone industry think that the new generation iPhone does not have many breakthroughs, but in fact there are many large groups who have not tried a touch screen machine and will see a brand new product with more functions.

Does it matter what the first-generation iPhone looked like?

What I came into contact with was today's 3G phone.

This kind of situation analysis made Yike executives somewhat frustrated at the meeting, so they built a unique front-facing camera. Now, the successful experience has been easily absorbed by other companies.

Including software from well-known Internet companies such as Facebook and YouTube that are available on the Apple Store, this kind of ecological gameplay has also been launched on the iOS system.

With such a threshold crossed, what did Yike gain after finally developing a product?

When Fang Zhuo heard this, he almost asked the senior executives to leave the office.

"What did Yi Ke get?"

"Yike has achieved more than 5 million mobile phone sales and more than 5 million users. It has successfully established a foothold in the mobile phone industry. It is expected to continue to expand the popularity of mobile phones and expand its market share. This year, it can compete with the domestic market occupied by foreign manufacturers. In the mid-to-high-end market, what do you think Yike has gained?"

After Fang Zhuo said this, he raised a rare personal question: "I don't know what the company got. Forget it. Isn't this bonus red envelope not handed out? Has it been withheld?"

The boss is very real, so real that it clears away the uneasy analytical atmosphere.

There is actually another very important reason here. Apple uses its own system for its own use, and the open source Android has already announced cooperation with the international giant Samsung. This seems to be a very significant challenge.

Who is the No.1 in the Android camp?

Samsung is not an easy player to deal with.

Moreover, if Apple chooses to add a front camera, will Samsung not add it?

Competition within the same camp will only become more intense.

There are still two months left before the June launch. The new generation of Mars needs to face competition from many well-known manufacturers such as iPhone, Samsung, LG, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and so on. What can the enhanced version of Mars with weakened "unique" Buff achieve? In this way, this is even more tense within the company than last year.

After this meeting, Su Wei heard that the company had received Mars 2 from the United States, and she quickly heard the news and came to see her.

When she arrived at the CEO's office of Hang Lung 23, she saw three documents neatly placed in front of Mr. Fang's desk, one from Ice Core, Yongke Real Estate, and Morningstar Semiconductor. He himself was looking at the Lehman stock price on the computer screen.

"I just saw a statement in a magazine that the murderer would return to the scene of the crime to admire his work. Do you think it makes sense?"

Su Wei walked next to Fang Zhuo and didn't know which one was the work.

Fang Zhuo laughed: "It's ridiculous, it's just a lie."

He took out the newly arrived Mars 2 from the drawer and handed it to Su Wei.

Su Wei took over the Mars 2, which was of the same lineage. Seeing that there were no major changes in appearance, she said: "It seems that this time it is all internal enhancements."

"The enhancement of the Android system, the rear pixels are upgraded from 2 million to 5 million, the color of the mobile phone is added, and the latest camera algorithm is added. It is a small upgrade to optimize the user experience." Fang Zhuo answered while picking up Morningstar's file to review appreciate.

"Well, you can't innovate for the sake of innovation. The user group that Mars can leverage is still very large." Su Wei played with the new mobile phone and commented.

Fang Zhuo praised: "I would have known that Mr. Su would also attend the meeting. Yes, what users want is not pure innovation, but products that can fit their needs. The Silicon Valley R\u0026D Center is researching relatively advanced fingerprint recognition and other directions, but The progress is still very slow and it is too early.”

"Fingerprints? It sounds quite sci-fi." Su Wei truthfully told her first impression.

"It's still early, it's still early." Fang Zhuo shook his head, "I don't know what kind of research can be done. Anyway, it is immature now, and there is no need to be so eager to push it to the market."

Nowadays, touch screen and intelligence are enabled, and we need to make a fuss about it. Functional innovation is another stage.

Su Wei nodded, played for a while, put the phone in her pocket, and said with a smile: "I will be an experiencer for domestic users first, and I will look at the look in your eyes when you look at Morningstar's files... Well, when will Morningstar be able to abandon darkness and turn to light? "

"After it goes on the market and goes through ups and downs, I'm afraid I will have to come forward to persuade and explain the principles of cooperation." Fang Zhuo shook his head, "This is not urgent. On the contrary, I am now considering Yike, Bingxin and MediaTek relationship.”

MediaTek and Morningstar are in a competitive relationship, and Yike and Bingxin are its potential partners.

However, if Morningstar becomes one of its own, the previous considerations for MediaTek may have to change.

Su Wei guessed Mr. Fang's meaning almost immediately.

She pondered for a long time and sighed euphemistically: "Business cooperation and competition are very dangerous."

"I was just thinking about it, and I didn't decide anything." Fang Zhuo felt a little wronged, "Yike wants to see what kind of chips MediaTek comes up with, and when the company will launch an entry-level model."

This is an important factor in determining the relationship with MediaTek, Morningstar's prospects, chip strength and time nodes.

He did not elaborate on how he considered it, but picked up the ice core document on the table and said with a smile: "There is bad news. The reporter from the south is going to skip the 45nm process and start 40nm."

Su Wei raised her eyebrows slightly and said in surprise: "Didn't you say that Intel and UMC are all 45nm? Why are you so happy about the bad news when the Taiwanese reporter took another small step forward?"

"This shows that Taiji has strong R\u0026D capabilities, and I can't stop it from R\u0026D." Fang Zhuo said, "However, because of last year's yield, cost and other issues, NVIDIA decided to cooperate with us for some 65nm orders."

Last year, NVIDIA's supply was tight due to Taiwan's production capacity issues, resulting in no goods to sell during the peak season.

This time, Taiwan Journal took an extra step. NVIDIA, which has always been very cautious about new processes, wants to take a safe route. Ice Core is developing the 45nm process technology and has no plans to skip the next level. If there are no flaws in the mid-to-low-end products, it is very likely that it will We will receive more orders for mid-to-high-end products from NVIDIA in the future.

The introduction of an international customer is an unexpected surprise for Bingxin. In the first quarter of this year, 60% of the production capacity has been upgraded and has a greater use.

Now the mass production capacity of Bingxin's Luzhou factory has increased from 1.5W to 2.4W per month. It is actively contacting major international customers and trying to solidify long-term cooperative relationships.

Qualcomm's chips equipped with Yiko Mars are selling like hotcakes, which undoubtedly proves Ice Core's process capabilities and is also an important reason for being included in the cooperation with NVIDIA.

Fang Zhuo simply expressed his joy and then said: "Taiji will be able to start 40nm OEM mass production in the first half of this year. This is a technology that is one and a half generations ahead. However, Liang Mengsong called me to analyze this matter and believes that Taiji will take the next step. It is very likely that we will not use the 32nm process, but will go directly to 28nm.”

Taiwan Journal announced in June last year that it plans to put 32nm into production in the fourth quarter of 2009, and this year it will be 45nm.

As a result, it is now directly skipping 45 and going straight to 40. It is also likely to continue to take another half-step later and directly develop the 28nm process technology.

Fang Zhuo was not sure whether the Taiwan Journalist would do this, but Liang Mengsong swore that no one knew the Taiwan Journalist better than him.

After all, this is a man who almost became the 3rd or 4th leader of the station.

If it is based on this progress, Ice Core may also need to reconsider its research and development direction.

Liang Mengsong is relatively radical and believes that we can also actively participate in the world's first-line competition along such process nodes, and the provinces will be quickly distanced.

Fang Zhuo heard this with excitement, and then calmly told Dr. Liang that he could join Ice Core this year. He would then judge whether it was feasible after learning more about the research and development capabilities and actual conditions.

"Taiji is still very powerful. How is it doing with SMIC?" Su Wei remembered something related.

Fang Zhuo stopped smiling and frowned: "I originally wanted to talk to Mr. Zhang, but he hurriedly flew to the United States at the end of last month. Maybe there were some problems with the appeal there. He was more passive after losing the case this time. , more passive than the previous two years.”

"Since we were able to mediate and reconcile last time, it will definitely work this time." Su Wei comforted.

Fang Zhuo nodded slightly. The reporter seemed to be more fierce and tough this time. He could only ensure that no matter what happened, there would be no problem with his subscription to SMIC's additional shares.

However, just three days later, Zhang Rujing received a phone call from the United States, which still shocked him greatly.

"Taijie set out the latest settlement conditions, requiring compensation and shares. They also asked me to resign from China Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and sign a three-year non-competition agreement."

"They have submitted new information and demands to the ITC again."

"We're still talking about it now, it's not easy to talk about."

Zhang Rujing's tone was calm and showed no anger.

Fang Zhuo couldn't give his opinion for a long time after listening. He was not sure whether Mr. Zhang wanted to hear his analysis or just chat. Calculating the time now, it was three o'clock in the morning in the United States. many.

He thought of Su Wei's words and asked in a questioning tone: "Since we were able to mediate last time, can it work again this time?"

"I hope so." Zhang Rujing said, "Let me talk to you first so as not to scare away your investment."

"How is that possible? It's just a sprinkling of water." Fang Zhuo deliberately sounded a little showy.

"That's it. Whenever I go back to China to have a drink with Mr. Fang, I will have a staged result here." Zhang Rujing made an appointment to meet.

Fang Zhuo ended the call and put down his phone, hoping to never drink this glass of wine with Mr. Zhang again.