Reinventing the Millennium

A rare and impromptu interview in which the three heads of the company faced the camera did not last long.

The YouTube live broadcast lasted an hour.

It was an hour with almost no greetings and rapid changes in topics.

In addition to discussing the timing and background of the birth of smartphones, facing Yike's patent competition, and Nokia's slow decision-making, the three people also talked about the ecology of smartphones, the future of mobile Internet, and problems encountered in the company's development.

Often after Jobs or Fang Zhuo talked about their thoughts in two or three sentences, the topic quickly changed. Schmidt tried to pull the content but it had no effect, and finally just let it go.

When the live camera was turned off, Schmidt was sweating slightly on his forehead, but Fang Zhuo and Jobs were still a little unfinished.

Fang Zhuo shook hands with Jobs and said in a more masterly manner than Schmidt: "Jobs, your arrival is of great significance to everyone."

Jobs said nothing.

When Cook, one of the guests watching the interview, came over, he said bluntly: "Whether Nokia stubbornly sticks to Symbian or rushes to build a new system, it will be difficult for it to keep up with the times. This is our responsibility." consensus."

Fang Zhuo glanced at Cook, shook hands with him, and said with a smile, "Yes, this is our consensus."

It was not just confirmed over the phone, but a consensus reached in person by the two leaders who decided the direction of the company.

This was also the decision that confirmed Cook's decision. Regardless of other factors, the two mobile phone manufacturers that hold key touch screen patents have reached a substantial consensus and united in their attitude towards Nokia's patents.

Apple people leave.

Schmidt watched Jobs's back disappear and suddenly said: "He looks pretty good, he's just a little yellower and a little thinner."

Fang Zhuo sighed and had to say for the second time today: "Be kind."

He was almost doubting himself. Who were the people around him?

"I didn't say anything. Besides, things have to be looked at objectively." Schmidt said dissatisfied, "What do you think of Cook?"

This didn't say anything, but the meaning was beyond the words.

Last December, Jobs did not attend the Macworld conference for the 11th consecutive year, which caused many people to worry about his health.

Last month, Jobs published an open letter in which he attributed his weight loss to an endocrine disorder, adding that the treatment for such nutritional problems is relatively simple and straightforward.

In less than two weeks, he handed over day-to-day operations to Cook and told employees he would return in the summer, saying health issues were more complicated than initially expected, but he would continue to be involved in the company's major strategic decisions.

It is clear that this time he also regards the competition with Nokia as part of a major strategic decision.

"Cook is very good." Fang Zhuo said simply, "Apple is willing to stand more firmly on the opposite side of Nokia. This is good news."

Schmidt lowered his voice slightly: "This will help the negotiations between Yike and Nokia. Maybe you just lack a chance to sit down."

Apple interrupted negotiations with Nokia, which may not help solve the Yike problem.

After all, no matter how Nokia sues the ITC, as Mr. Fang said, it will have to pass the key touch screen patents in a short time. Apple will not talk about it, let Yike do it.

Apple is also a competitor, and moral principles in the world can be upheld or not.

In Schmidt's view, although Nokia and Yike are both tough-talking, they still have the opportunity to exchange conditions and shake hands to make peace. How can they really stab each other with one knife at a time?

Fang Zhuo glanced at Schmidt and confirmed that his talent was indeed enough to lead Google to become stronger.

He said calmly: "I'm still waiting for Nokia to acquire Yike. It would be best if Kallasvuo comes in person."

Schmidt thinks this may be difficult.

However, he could understand Mr. Fang's attitude. If he had been so rich when he was younger, he would have been more domineering than Mr. Fang.

But it’s not like they’re really going to fight each other until they’re banned from selling each other, right?

Schmidt believes that the ending between Yiko and Nokia is just a lack of an opportunity.

…

YouTube webcast is a new form of Internet application.

When Jobs, who had not been seen for a long time, Fang Zhuo, the party involved in the whirlpool, and Google CEO Schmidt, who had joined in, had a small discussion on related topics, the most immediate impact was that the stocks of Apple and Yike turned green.

At the beginning of the month, both Yike and Apple were stimulated by their financial reports, and their stock prices rebounded sharply after the financial crisis. Apple rose from the bottom of 68 billion to nearly 80 billion, and Yike rose from the bottom of 13 billion to 20 billion.

Throughout February, the stock prices of the two companies were still generally correcting. Even though there was still uncertainty in the financial market, the company's excellent market performance still allowed the company to be recognized. Apple's market value rose to 87 billion, and it is already heading towards 90 billion. The stock price rose to 24 billion, and the correction was even greater.

However, in the last few days at the end of the month, Yike's stock price has been fluctuating around $84 due to news related to Nokia and Wall Street short sellers, and the market is in a wait-and-see state.

Many people find the two-month period given by Nokia very shocking, and the media's interpretation of this is also pessimistic.

But in today's live broadcast, the head of Yike directly refuted such a conclusion, pointing out that Yike's June press conference was enough to deal with the worst-case scenario, and also proposed that Yike countersued Nokia as a preemptive move.

It may not necessarily be necessary to control people, but being able to exchange blood will provide a basis for negotiation.

Such expectations caused Yike's stock price to break through the shock and rise to US$88.68.

In the evening, Fang Zhuo held a small meeting at Yike and talked about the company's stock price, saying with a smile that it was a very auspicious number.

However, the next day, he received a call from Microsoft at the President's Office and was told that the Yike mobile phone equipped with Android system had infringed Microsoft's patents, and the two companies needed to negotiate and discuss how to solve this problem.

Microsoft?

Fang Zhuo was preoccupied with factors such as stock prices, short positions, Nokia, and ITC. He was really confused when he was called by Microsoft out of the blue.

"Mr. Yu, please check the mobile phone patent situation involved by Microsoft. I'll call Schmidt first." Fang Zhuo smelled a different smell, took out his mobile phone, and added, "Check the patent status of Microsoft in recent years." patent lawsuit."

Yu Hong looked solemn and walked out of the CEO's office.

Fang Zhuo called Schmidt, but he didn't get through.

While waiting for a call back, he thought about the giants that had emerged at this time.

Fifteen minutes later, there was still no movement from Schmidt's side, and Yu Hong had already returned with some information.

"A very bad news." Yu Hong said seriously. "The year before last, Microsoft claimed that Linux infringed on 235 of its patents. However, it did not disclose the specific content of these patents."

Android is developed based on the Linux kernel.

Fang Zhuo knocked on the table with his knuckles and asked in surprise: "Wait, did I hear correctly? How many items?"

Yu Hong reported the exact number: "235 patents."

Fang Zhuo: "..."

Yu Hong gave Mr. Fang ten seconds to digest, and then continued to talk about useful information: "Microsoft's consistent strategy is to directly negotiate with companies that apply Linux technology and sign patent licensing agreements."

"Companies that have signed the agreement and paid royalties include Amazon, Novell, Linspire, TurboLinux and other companies."

Fang Zhuo asked again: "Microsoft has not made any move on Android before. Has Google done anything like this?"

Yu Hong shook her head and gave the team's temporary opinion: "Microsoft may be waiting for enough products equipped with Android systems to be sold. According to Microsoft's past habits, it will not negotiate with Google, but directly negotiate with terminal manufacturers. .”

Fang Zhuo understood what Mr. Yu meant. Terminal manufacturers directly installed the Android system, and Google benefited indirectly.

He pondered for a moment, frowned and said, "Do you think this has anything to do with Nokia?"

"It's not clear rationally yet, but intuitively, I think there is a big relationship. Yesterday, Apple just gave a firm attitude. Cooperation between the two of us can block Nokia's progress. Today, Microsoft has stepped forward." Yu Hong said seriously, "It's hard not to think of this."

Fang Zhuo nodded, he had more direct confirmation besides rationality.

However, I didn't expect that Microsoft would be involved in this way.

The phone on the table vibrated, and Schmidt called back.

Fang Zhuo directly informed Schmidt of the latest news.

"Ah? Wait, let me confirm the situation." Schmidt was extremely surprised. He didn't hang up the phone here and directly contacted the people at Microsoft using the landline.

Google competes with Microsoft, but he is familiar with Microsoft's top executives.

In just a few minutes, Schmidt put down the phone and confirmed: "Yes, Mr. Fang, Microsoft has made a patent claim. If nothing else, the Android system is infringing."

He paused and continued: "I asked Mike how many patents Android infringes, and his answer was hundreds."

When Fang Zhuo heard the word "hundred" again, he smiled from the bottom of his heart: "Schmidt, listen to what you are saying. Microsoft has entered the battlefield where we compete with Nokia with hundreds of pieces of infringing information. This is really good news.”

"Give me five minutes," Schmidt said again.

This time, he hung up.

Five minutes later, Schmidt picked up the call again: "Mr. Fang, we urgently analyzed that the situation may not be that bad. There should be a large number of non-standard essential patents in Microsoft's patents, which can be circumvented."

"But this requires time and effort, and a better solution is for Microsoft to package standard essential patents and non-standard essential patents together for licensing negotiations."

Perhaps more than half of the hundreds of patents can be circumvented, but a small number of patents that are difficult to circumvent or require more time make circumventing this action uneconomical.

"Schmitt, have you realized that Microsoft is not targeting Yike, but the Android system." Fang Zhuo said, "This is for the Android system."

Schmidt was silent. This incident was sudden and he needed time to digest it.

Furthermore, he's skeptical about the role Microsoft wants to play now.

Google has devoted a lot of resources to the Android system, and now is a critical moment to actively expand the market. First, Yike and Nokia were involved in a patent lawsuit, and then Microsoft launched an attack on Android under the banner of infringement.

This is not a very healthy sign.

"Yike just wants to sell a mobile phone well, why are there so many obstacles?" Fang Zhuo sighed.

"It's okay, Mr. Fang. You will also be a stumbling block for others in the future. No, you are already blocking Nokia now." Schmidt still wanted to console him, "Microsoft has been unmoving, and now it may have something to do with Nokia. "

The timing was so coincidental that I had to think about Nokia.

He continued: "Google, Yiko, and Android will always stand together. Mr. Fang, I need more time to understand the situation and confirm whether it is related to Nokia. Perhaps, we can use the PRO Alliance patent mutual licensing method. solve this problem."

"If it is really related to Nokia, it may also be an appropriate opportunity for reconciliation."

Schmidt was still talking about reconciliation yesterday, but today he feels that we can talk about it again.

Fang Zhuo put down his phone and told Mr. Yu what he heard.

Soon, the president's office became quiet as the two of them were thinking.

The giant suddenly showed its fangs, and suddenly there were hundreds of patents.

This makes the patent disputes between Nokia, LG, HTC, Apple, and Yike seem petty. A dozen items and hundreds of items are not of the same order of magnitude.

Of course, there are certain requirements for non-standard essential patents, but the number is still surprisingly high.

"Let's first assume that Nokia cooperates with Microsoft when Apple turns..."

After a while, Fang Zhuo spoke up and set the conditions.

Yu Hong concentrated, but Mr. Fang did not continue, but was obviously deep in thought.

Nokia's patents, ITC's ruling, Apple's position, Yike's interests, Samsung in the dark, the development of the Android camp, the game of good and bad, the preparations of short-selling institutions...

With Microsoft's sudden power, all factors were mixed together in Fang Zhuo's mind.

Microsoft, especially the large number of patents it holds, was indeed unexpected.

It was the call from Schmidt that broke the silence in the office.

The call was brief.

After Fang Zhuo hung up, he said again: "Okay, no need to make assumptions. It is true that Nokia and Microsoft have cooperated to a certain extent. Microsoft does not want the key patents of touch screens to be blocked. It does not want Nokia to be like this, and it does not want Microsoft WM to be like this. , if Yike insists on counterclaiming, Microsoft may also take corresponding legal measures instead of patent charges."

"Microsoft is standing up for Nokia." Yu Hong highlighted the key points succinctly.

"Patent disputes are indeed difficult, and major manufacturers have all the means." Fang Zhuo said with emotion.

Then, he spoke faster: "Many factors are now in front of us. It is a mess, but I have been thinking about a question just now, what does Microsoft want to get?"

Yu Hong also felt that it was a mess, especially because her counterparty's overall financial market layout was vague, which made it even more difficult to clarify.

Fang Zhuo looked at Xiao Yu, but his eyes lost focus. He slowed down his speech and considered: "In other words, for Microsoft, what kind of Nokia is the best partner? A Finnish overlord that has taken off against the trend. ?”

"Or a dying Nokia?"

"Except Nokia, who doesn't covet the market it occupies?"

"We need time, and Microsoft may be able to give us enough time."

Fang Zhuo's eyes regained focus and gave his first reaction: "Mr. Yu, please inform Stringer that there is no money in the account. The acquisition of Sony Music shares is on hold. The issue of Microsoft WM on Sony Ericsson mobile phones needs to be renegotiated. .”

Yu Hong was stunned, Stringer? The top five Sony Ericsson mobile phones in the world?

Holding Jazz hostage to control Sony!