Pengcheng, Penguin’s highest decision-making body, general manager’s office.
Thirteen members of the general office, including Ma Huateng, Liu Chiping, and Xu Chenye, gathered together to discuss how to deal with the challenge from Yike, another domestic giant.
However, when the meeting began, everyone was very silent except for circulating the temporarily collected information about "Yixin".
The incident happened suddenly and was too serious.
The company has long been wary of Yike, who is successful in making mobile phones, extending its tentacles into its own territory, but there has been no very effective method.
Among the limited choices, the most effective thing is to be yourself.
The second is to control or affect part of the mobile phone hardware.
Furthermore, we need to find ways to weaken this potentially dangerous opponent.
The first two are progressing in an orderly manner.
But what went wrong?
The company is doing more and more business and making more and more money. This year's stock price and market value can reflect the recognition of Penguin in the secondary market. Like this time it enters the field of Internet security, it also adheres to the principle of making Penguin stronger and its opponents more powerful.
Why did such a weak principle suddenly become like this?
The atmosphere in the conference room was depressing, with Chairman Ma Huateng and President Liu Chiping not speaking.
Liu Chiping joined Penguin in 2004 and has now become the No. 2 figure in 2009. He has grown rapidly and is very capable, but precisely because he is the president, the decision to attack the Internet security field was made by him.
As a result, 360 was almost killed, but a giant crocodile suddenly appeared and performed a death roll. As a result, he was in the current situation and it was difficult for him to speak.
As for the leader Ma Huateng...
Finally, someone broke the unspeakable silence.
Xu Chenye, one of the Penguin Five Tigers, spoke up and briefly asked the leader: "Didn't you mean the second half of next year?"
Ma Huateng replied calmly: "He lied to me."
Xu Chenye nodded slightly: "Understood."
Hey, Mr. Fang.
Since it is Mr. Fang, it is understandable.
Although the company has been psychologically prepared for competition, everyone is still a little relieved after the boss personally confirmed that the time period for competitors to take action has been blurred to the second half of next year or even the year after that.
How should I put it? I believe it, but I don’t believe it either.
But now, well, it's outrageous...
Xu Chenye advised: "Pony, block him."
Ma Huateng replied calmly: "Okay."
With the opening remarks, everyone's communication will be smoother despite their complicated moods.
The situation is quite obvious. The Yike Department is aggressive and pointing its sword at the communications business. Judging from the other party's actions, this is not a test, but an all-out attack.
The latest relevant information is on the table. What is more intuitive is that everyone has got Yike's Mars3 in their hands and can experience this latest mobile instant messaging software "Yixin".
Ren Yuxi, Penguin's executive vice president, shook the document in his hand and said: "Actually, there is no need to go into a long explanation that Yike is a major strategic move this time. Just look at the name of this software that starts with the word 'Yi', and you will know that although it
Formally it is an independent subsidiary, but it must be an important part of the Yike Department."
Many people in the conference room nodded. Now they know that Yixin is a subsidiary jointly invested by Yike and Sina. However, since it was such a big deal when it was first launched, its status is different.
Looking at other units with the word "Yi", such as Yike and Yigou, this is by no means a coincidence.
Ren Yuxi continued: "I think you don't have to be too impatient. The troops will stop you. It's a certainty that Yike will do the communication. It will happen sooner or later. My opinion is that it is better to be late than early."
When Xu Chenye heard such contrary views, his spirits perked up slightly. He also noticed similar changes in the expressions of others and immediately asked, "Mr. Ren, what do you say?"
Although Ren Yuxi is not one of the Five Penguin Tigers, he joined Penguin in 2000. He is very senior and speaks with great weight.
He organized the language slightly and elaborated on his thoughts: "As we all know, Yike's mobile phone brand has been recognized by domestic consumers. It has cultivated the domestic supply chain, lowered the cost of smartphones, and established YMS ecological manufacturers to increase its influence. This will happen
What are the consequences?"
"Yike's hardware will definitely become more powerful in the future!"
"Why do we all believe the timing of Pony's report? It's also because everyone thinks that Yike will accumulate this power and wait until next year's Android smartphones are more widely deployed before trying to enter the communications field."
Ren Yuxi said calmly: "It is not easy for any manufacturer to challenge our communications business. It can be said that once it fails once, it will be more difficult the second time. Therefore, we did not expect that Yike would take action at this time, but since it has taken action
, the bullet finally came out of the gun, then we can treat it normally."
Everyone in the conference room understood what Mr. Ren meant. Next year it may be bullets from a sniper rifle, but this year it will be bullets from a small pistol. It is better to do this later than sooner.
Xu Chenye sometimes plays the role of a butler in the general office. Noticing everyone's morale recovery, he voiced his approval: "What Mr. Ren said makes sense."
Ren Yuxi was not complacent and said objectively: "But the problem is also very serious now. Yike entered the game at this time. I believe Mr. Fang also realized the problem of hardware foundation, so he directly joined forces with Symbian, although Symbian is bound to be inferior to Android
Pushing it like that definitely made up for a lot of shortcomings, which was unexpected."
His tone became serious and he criticized: "Moreover, we must pay attention to how the situation where Yixin was welcomed by public opinion was formed. This has greatly strengthened the threat level of Yixin. Someone must be responsible for this."
啕
This statement is very sharp.
However, unlike other companies, Penguin's general office does not have a voting system, and the atmosphere for each decision-making discussion is quite tolerant. Although this statement made some people hesitate to speak, it did not cause too much worry.
The facts are before our eyes.
The public opinion impact of operations such as forced installation and forced traffic diversion that were not taken seriously before or were not of such high priority will exponentially contribute to the promotion of Yixin's new communication software.
Once it is really taken over by Yixin, the foundation of Penguin being a giant will be in danger.
President Liu Chiping heard this and said slowly: "I am responsible. This time the competition with 360 has reached this point, and Yike took advantage of the situation to launch competing products. I am responsible. This is my responsibility."
Ren Yuxi was silent for a few seconds and then said again: "I'm not just talking about Yike. I think some of the strategic ideas that have allowed Penguin to develop from the past to the present need to be reconsidered."
The competition with 360 is a reflection of strategy and a continuation of past successes.
Ren Yuxi does not want to veto the success of the past, but wants to talk about whether the success of the past can continue to be successful now and even in the future.
This is what he thinks is more important, and it is also what he is thinking about today.
However, after President Liu Chiping took the initiative to take over the responsibility, Executive Vice President Ren Yuxi still wanted to continue.
Is this the right occasion?
Xu Chenye thought it was inappropriate, so he shifted the focus back: "Our strategic positioning will be discussed later. Today we are going to talk about how to deal with the challenges of Yike."
Ren Yuxi noticed the way Mr. Xu looked at her, did not insist, and fell silent.
However, Ma Huateng still said: "We will talk about the company's strategy tomorrow. This is very important."
Yike entered the market, Penguin plummeted, and public opinion was boiling. It had only been an hour since these had appeared in front of him. He also needed to collect his thoughts for a while, but as Ren Yuxi said, he might really need to think about the company's strategy.
Senior Vice President Lu Shan had been trying out his opponent's products since he was sitting in the conference room. At this time, he said: "I tried this Yixin. There are two key points worth noting."
Lu Shan has a technical background, and he manages the Penguin operating platform system.
"A key point is that Yixin reads the user's address book, which will inevitably cause it to fission based on the user's real relationship network. This radiation may bring unexpected growth."
"The second key point is that this kind of information sending based on real relationships relies on traffic for interaction. If the scale expands, won't this replace paid text messages?"
One is a network of acquaintances, and the other is free information.
Penguin also attaches great importance to the development of mobile terminals, but its characteristics are completely different from Yixin.
Xu Chenye pondered: "It sounds more like he is targeting China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom for their text message interests. Is Fang Zhuo trying to make false claims against Guo?"
Everyone is watching the vigorous battle between Yi Ke and Penguin, but the actual target is the fat of telecom operators?
Liu Chiping objected: "Whether they are acquaintances or strangers, as long as Yixin grows in scale, our market will inevitably be divided. There is no doubt that free text messages are Yixin's means, not its goal."
He continued: "What's more, this is just the first step for Yixin to gain a foothold. As long as its traffic is stable, it will probably expand naturally."
"Also, the launch of this Yixintiao at this time can once again show Mr. Fang's offensive nature."
"Today's stock price drop proves everyone's view that Yike is here for us."
Liu Chiping is not optimistic at all: "The free text messages that Mr. Lu said, coupled with the fission of Yixin's address book, and the user public opinion that must be faced now, these combined are extremely dangerous."
"In addition, Shenxin Technology's large-scale transaction this morning is also suspected of smashing the market. Mr. Fang's methods have always been superimposed, which should be familiar to everyone."
People are in danger, products are in danger, and means are in danger.
These are the three dangers from competitors.
Ma Huateng nodded, agreeing with this characterization.
Liu Chiping added: "Yixin chose this opportunity to come out, and 360 is the pioneer."
Lu Shan said silently: "It's not just the 360 in the front..."
The atmosphere in the conference room was suppressed. Mr. Lu, you...
Ma Huateng glanced at everyone, took a sip of water, and said slowly: "Now is how we should respond to Yike's Yi Xin."
Everyone knows that Yike has entered Penguin's territory, and they have to respond no matter what, regardless of external public opinion or the stock price and market value, the most fundamental thing is what Penguin can do.
"Looking simply at the product positioning of Yixin, it is a communication software based on mobile terminals." Lu Shan spoke again, "We can either use QQ to read the mobile phone address book and directly include the business scope, or we can make a
A similar new product.”
Another member of the general office, Liu Shengyi, said: "With QQ, we will have traffic support and can quickly occupy the market that Yixin wants. If we develop new products, this development time will give the other party a first-mover advantage."
Xu Chenye raised his eyebrows and said, "If we use QQ directly, will this be a bit confusing for the positioning of QQ itself? The new product has a clear positioning and feels more targeted."
QQ has huge traffic, but users have deep-rooted usage habits.
For new products, you can also import traffic, but it is not as convenient as the main body, and it will also give opponents some time in the early stage.
Liu Shengyi compared the pros and cons in his mind, but habitually talked about the marketing field he was responsible for: "No matter which one is used, let's first use Yixin's harm to the operator's text messages to hype up, and see if we can let the operators
Business has put pressure on Yike."
SMS benefits are definitely a big deal, and the three major operators have a lot of muscle.
Xu Chenye flatly objected: "You can't say it clearly. The more clearly you say it, the more users will flock to use it. Are you afraid that they don't know?"
Liu Shengyi suddenly understood and nodded repeatedly: "Yes, find someone to chat with in private. Well, I will take care of it."
If he hypes this up, it will help Yi Xin.
The discussion in the conference room became intensive.
After all, we have to face reality. Yike has already come to kill him, and he cannot tie up Pony and surrender, so he can only fight the enemy with all his strength.
Ma Huateng was used to listening in such meetings, but today he always felt uneasy. He first communicated with Liu Chiping in a low voice, and then talked with Lu Shan, and finally came up with a preliminary response on the product side.
Do together!
There is no reason to give up QQ’s huge traffic advantage. You can first suppress Yixin’s momentum. QQ is number one in the communications field.
The research and development of new products can be targeted and can also be connected to QQ traffic. If it is effective, this part of QQ can be stripped away.
The public opinion time launched by Yixin is indeed very good, but QQ traffic is still a real weapon, and Yixin is still fighting on Penguin's home court.
The meeting held by the General Office lasted from 5pm to 9:30pm.
When the meeting ends, the bosses assigned to tasks such as R&D, marketing, and marketing will have to work overtime overnight, and lobbying for Yixin's harm to the interests of operators will also be carried out secretly.
Ma Huateng returned to his office. A meeting lasted for four and a half hours. Although he had not eaten, he was not hungry at all.
Today's attack from Yike was so shocking!
In other words, this shock is like a summary of this recent competition.
It was obviously a small manufacturer 360, but 360, a security software manufacturer, did not follow common sense and actually came up with a plug-in software.
Ma Huateng threw the cup when the bodyguard came out, and he also acknowledged that there are various measures to prevent this software.
However, the person ran away and the software was removed from the shelves. Before he could "remain brave enough to chase the poor bandits", as soon as he reached the dense forest, he saw Fang Zhuo ordering all his soldiers and horses inside!
Ma Huateng sat in the office and drank half a glass of water. Thinking about the previous phone call with Fang Zhuo, the mood that had gradually calmed down suddenly surged up again!
Top! Too top!
He took out his cell phone and wanted to block Fangzhuo's phone number!
However, when Ma Huateng saw the number, he felt angry. What did the outside world say about Fang Zhuo?
What a business leader! What the second best CEO in the world!
Is there such a thing? Is there such a good one?
What about the “second half of next year or the year after” that they keep saying?
If you don't say it, don't say it. Why bother to lie to people with open mouth? Is there even a trace of "business leader" bearing?
Ma Huateng did not block the number immediately, but directly dialed it. He felt tingling all over without making this call. He was considered good-tempered for not immediately flying to Hang Lung 23 to question him face to face.
The call came through quickly, but the voice on the other end was noisy.
"Fang Zhuo!" Ma Huateng called him by his name.
"Wait, wait, Pony, it's too noisy. I'm drinking champagne. It's too noisy. I can't hear you clearly. Please wait." Fang Zhuo said loudly.
Ma Huateng had no expression on his face.
The background sound on the phone soon became quiet.
Fang Zhuo said again: "Pony, good evening, what's the matter?"
Ma Huateng called him by his name and asked: "Fang Zhuo, didn't you... last time?"
Fang Zhuo interrupted: "If you have this tone, then call me Mr. Fang."
Ma Huateng's anger was about to reach Tianling Gai, and he still called him by his name: "Fang Zhuo, you..."
The phone was hung up.
Ma Huateng's anger is almost flowing into his mobile phone!
He suppressed his anger, didn't block him after asking, dialed the phone again, and then asked: "Mr. Fang, you want to communicate, okay, normal business behavior, why did you lie half a month ago? It's another half month.
What can you do?"
Fang Zhuo was a little confused: "Pony, did I lie? What did I say?"
Ma Huateng sneered: "You called me half a month ago and said that Yike will definitely do communication, and the time will be the second half of next year or the year after next. Why, Mr. Fang, how often do you forget things? Or you don't even dare to admit it.
Already?"
Fang Zhuo remembered, oh, this.
He explained patiently: "Pony, did you hear it wrong? I meant, 'next year, the second half of the year, or the year after that.' It means next year, the second half of the year, or the year after that."
Fang Zhuo slowed down and repeated: "Listen carefully, 'next year, the second half of the year or the year after next'."
This is a small misunderstanding of the sentence.
Ma Huateng was stunned, this...impossible! 啕
"You asked me if I would do communications, and I told you, I would do it." Fang Zhuo said seriously, "You asked me when I would do it, and I even told you the time period for the second half of the year. Do you really want me to be precise?
One day? Pony, that’s not enough, is it?”
Ma Huateng was silent for a moment, carefully recalling the phone call that day.
Because this was an exchange for a long time, he remembered it very clearly, not to mention that it was related to competing product strategy.
He confirmed that he remembered correctly and said sarcastically: "Mr. Fang, at this time, you don't even admit it. It's really looking down on you."
"Okay, okay, if you think that forcing me to admit it will make your users praise Penguin one after another, then I admit that I, a competitor of Penguin, did not truthfully explain the release time of important products to the head of Penguin. It is me who
Wrong, what? Are you satisfied?" Fang Zhuo said calmly.
Ma Hua laughed angrily: "You, Fang Zhuo, you are awesome!"
Fang Zhuo didn't get angry because he was called by his first name this time. He just interrupted the other person's intention to hang up the phone: "Pony, you're scared!"
Ma Huateng put the phone close to his ear again and said loudly: "What am I afraid of?"
Fang Zhuo's voice was higher than his: "Are you afraid that you will make too big a mistake!"
Ma Huateng sneered: "What mistake did I make?"
Fang Zhuo asked three times in a row: "If you didn't make a mistake, how could something so trustworthy come out? If you didn't make a mistake, how could the public opinion be so overwhelming? If you didn't make a mistake, how could you get so angry over just one sentence?"
Ma Huateng was furious: "Yes, you, Fang Zhuo, are the most right in the world!"
"I'm just seeking truth from facts." Fang Zhuo's tone softened, but his meaning went further, "And, Pony, you clearly know that you are wrong, you know that Penguin is wrong, but you are afraid that the price of this mistake will be too high!
"
Ma Huateng's voice forcibly calmed down: "Mr. Fang, it seems that you are really confident in Yi Xin."
Fang Zhuo said to himself: "It doesn't matter, Pony, if you don't change, if you don't make up your mind to change, Yike will help you change."
What kind of mistake needs Hippo software to correct it? Is this reasonable? This is unreasonable!
Ma Huateng didn't want to hear any more, so he hung up the phone, blocked his number, and smashed the teacup, all at once.
This is the second teacup sacrificed in the office after competing with 360.
Fang Zhuo on the other end still had something to say, but he could only put away his phone with regret.
"Who was wrong? You were so loud." Su Wei walked into the room holding champagne.
Fang Zhuo shook his head: "It's okay, I want to discuss things with Pony, but he's such a tough guy."
Su Wei said softly: "Don't be too angry. He will fly from Pengcheng to come to you later, open the champagne and drink champagne."
Fang Zhuo laughed as he walked: "Still open? I won't let them open it. How can anyone open the champagne on the first day? They open so much champagne that I can't finish it. I can't finish it at all."
"Oh, yes, Xiao Liu just said that Wang Xing will fly to Shanghai tomorrow." Su Wei remembered what Liu Zonghong had just come to say.
Fang Zhuo wondered: "What is he doing here? What's going on on Weibo?"
"I'm not here to find you, I'm just here to find Zhang Xiaolong." Su Wei said with a smile.
Fang Zhuo was puzzled. The two of them seemed to have little contact with each other.
Without waiting to speak, the phone rang again, but it was another interview call.
Yi Xin came out, Penguin was shocked, and the media has been frantically following the latest situation since the evening.
The fierce battle between 360 and Penguin was clearly in full swing, but why did the opponent suddenly change during the fight?
It was obviously a case of relying on the strong to bully the weak, but why did it suddenly turn into a battle between giants?
Because of Mr. Fang’s Weibo today, many media directly referred to Yixin as Hippo Software.
There are also reporters who were unable to interview three parties involved. One is said to be in a meeting, one is said to be celebrating, and one is confirmed to be missing. Therefore, they can only vividly describe today's grand event.
——"Mr. Fang told a cold joke about a hippopotamus."
——"Penguin lost 17 billion."
--"Ha ha ha ha."
…
The private plane from Shanghai landed at New York International Airport, and the "Qingzi" took the passengers to their destination in less than 10 hours.
Zhou Hongyi was in a daze along the way, sleeping, thinking, helpless, angry, and dazed.
After finally landing, he didn't waste a second. The first thing he did was to call his family to report that he was safe. Then he knew that Liu Zonghong had informed him of his movements and situation in advance, and he couldn't help but feel even more moved.
Subsequently, his second call was to the company president Qi Xiangdong.
"Mr. Qi, it's me." Zhou Hongyi's voice was low.
"Oh, Mr. Zhou!" Qi Xiangdong's voice was very high.
Zhou Hongyi was shocked when she heard the joy in Mr. Qi's voice. Why was she so happy? Has 360 been bankrupted by Mr. Qi? Are you crazy?
He quickly asked: "How is it in the company?"
Qi Xiangdong replied: "Everyone is very happy."
Zhou Hongyi felt strange, what was going on, how happy she was, one day in the sky, one year on the earth?
He asked seriously: "What are you happy about?"
Qi Xiangdong was startled, suspecting that Mr. Zhou was hiding in some nook and cranny. He might not know the current situation, so he immediately replied: "Yike announced its entry into the communications industry, launched the 'Yixin' software, and fucked the penguin from the front. The penguin has already
Withdraw the incompatibility with our software and devote ourselves to dealing with Yike. Our dilemma is solved!"
Zhou Hongyi said "ah".
Qi Xiangdong continued to report the situation: "The news was announced at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Penguin's market value has dropped by 17 billion Hong Kong dollars. I heard that even the National Day holiday has been cancelled. We are all ready! They have no time to control us! We can just wait and watch the show.
Got it!"
Zhou Hongyi: "..."
Qi Xiangdong chattered, sometimes being compatible, sometimes hippopotamus, sometimes public opinion, sometimes gloating over misfortune, and then gloating over misfortune.
When the call ended, Zhou Hongyi quickly checked the relevant news on her mobile phone, and it turned out to be true! Mr. Qi is not crazy!
He sat in the car, confused.
Mr. Fang has been prepared for a long time... This... you... you should have done it earlier... so that I wouldn't have to swallow the wind and swallow the sand like this... Hey
Zhou Hongyi thought of what she heard in the CEO office of Hang Lung 23 - "Yike is prepared for this, but we are waiting for the right time."
Even if he is the most unlucky person involved, even if he is forced to stay away from his hometown at this moment, he has to admit that Mr. Fang has really waited for the most suitable time!
It really seems like one day in heaven and one year on earth!
No, not a day yet, only ten short hours...
In ten hours, the giant ended up turning everything upside down!
…
October 1st, National Day, the second day after Yixin went online.
Reporters still haven't gotten first-hand information about the parties involved, but users are still enthusiastic about choosing one of the two.
At 10 o'clock in the morning, the head of 360, who was rumored to have fled in a hurry, suddenly spoke out again on Weibo and made a tough declaration - "It is better to resist than to live."
However, apart from some sympathizers, the comments on his Weibo also had some heart-wrenching remarks.
"Mr. Zhou, please come back soon. Mr. Fang has sent a letter."
"Stop resisting. You're done. Mr. Zhou, where are you putting it?"
Zhou Hongyi:......
This is no longer a year on earth, this is like three autumns apart. It turns out that this is how Mr. Xiong feels when he is out of breath...
Near 12 noon, another celebrity spoke out on Weibo, attracting a large number of netizens to watch.
Weibo President Wang Xing posted a photo with President Zhang Xiaolong in Yixin’s office.
In the photo, the two shake hands, Wang Xing smiles brightly, and Zhang Xiaolong looks a little shy.
The most eye-catching thing is that there are four handsome characters hanging on the wall of the office-just be penguins.
Wang Xing took a flight from Beijing to Shanghai today and specially presented this calligraphy to Zhang Xiaolong, the president of Yixin.
The caption for his photo this time is particularly simple.
——"Mr. Fang's handwritten letter, this is a gift to my dear friend, never forget your original intention and work as a penguin."