As an executive with the highest position in an American technology company, Lu Qi is quite famous.
In particular, Google is more familiar with Lu Qi.
Because, under the leadership of Lu Qi, Microsoft's search Bing almost grabbed more than 20% of the market share from scratch, and the method adopted was to cooperate with social media such as Facebook, which is amazing.
On the mobile side, where Google is putting a lot of effort, Bing is also somewhat ready to make a move, and there have been rumors of an intention to cooperate with Apple.
The reason why it is Apple is probably because it is the company that has the least close cooperation with Google. Regardless of Yike and Samsung, they are all using Google's GMS, and they are deeply involved.
But at this point, from Google's point of view, if there is a plan to switch to Bing after the cooperation with Apple expires, the two companies that should be most stable in the mobile market are Samsung and Yike.
Otherwise, if Apple changes its gear, Yike rebels, and BING cooperates with social media platforms, the situation in the entire mobile search market will immediately become different.
This was related to Google's core business, so Larry flew to Shanghai with apologies to personally promote this cooperation.
If it is not natural, there will still be some changes.
If you take Lu Qi's identity and background into consideration, if he goes back to Shanghai during his vacation, the two of them will become passionately in love.
Larry became more vigilant and thought that Mr. Fang would take the opportunity to talk about the competition between Microsoft and Google. However, unexpectedly, this person did not talk about this and still talked about the current situation and development of Yike.
After the private meeting ended, Fang Zhuo smiled before heading to the luncheon: "Larry, you can't be worried because Lu Qi called you. He didn't even come, but you flew there yourself."
Now, who is more sincere?"
What's more, that's still a fake Lu Qi...
Fang Zhuo hosted a banquet for Larry, and sitting next to him was Qi He who made the call on his own initiative.
While eating, Larry politely listened to some chats from Yike's competitive product business. He knew Qi He and knew that this person was in charge of the GMS-like section.
When Qi He talked about his recent cloud business development in the European market, Larry became somewhat interested. This is a segment that Google is doing but is relatively weak in. Not only is it not comparable to Amazon, it is not even comparable to Microsoft.
Google has been researching this area relatively early, but the entire company is still hesitant about its direction.
"Why does Yike want to develop in Europe? I really haven't heard that Yike is doing cloud business in the United States." Larry asked a question.
Qi He glanced at his boss and saw that Mr. Fang had no intention of hiding it, so he replied directly: "To avoid Amazon and Microsoft."
Larry blinked, oh, no Google.
"There are many small and medium-sized companies in Europe, with many things to do and low profits, but the demands they put forward are actually worthy of our consideration." Qi He said eloquently, "We are now building LaaS infrastructure, and the connection with customer needs is important in itself.
a part of.”
Larry frowned and said, "It's a bit convoluted."
"The cloud business is To B. Based on this model, we must pay attention to customer needs, which is not easy." Fang Zhuo took over the words and said simply, "Just like your Google, the business model is more
Built around consumer search.”
To put it more bluntly, Google is similar to Baidu in this regard. Search is so profitable that other businesses have to be deferred.
Why is Google willing to spend huge sums of money every year to maintain the default engine? Because it can make more and more money through this.
Larry understood this time, but just laughed: "Mr. Fang is the best president in the world. It seems that Google needs to ask you to talk to us about its cloud business strategy."
"It's enough to ask Bezos. Let him talk about how Amazon paralyzed you." Fang Zhuo smiled.
Larry looked at Mr. Fang in surprise, feeling that although he was smiling, he seemed to be quite serious about what he said.
He had an idea and changed the topic.
Google and Yike have many cooperation projects, and the two leaders have personal relationships. This lunch was a feast for both the guest and the host.
In the afternoon, Larry walked into the president's office and saw Yike Mars and Selfy, which will be released this month, and was immediately attracted to the former.
He picked up Mars in surprise and murmured: "Is this the Mars model you are going to mass-produce? This... made me feel like meeting Mars for the first time."
"Of course it's a mass production model. Small-scale mass production should be considered mass production." Fang Zhuo said with a smile, "To be precise, it should be the Mars Pro version. How about it? It's not in vain. This one can be given as a gift.
you."
At this month’s press conference, Yike confirmed that it will not launch a tablet and will launch the second generation Galaxy in March next year. However, in addition to the traditional Mars 6 and Selfy 3, it has also developed a higher-level series-Mars 6 Pro.
.
The Pro version now presented to Larry is different in style from the already released Samsung Trump and Apple iPhone, or in other words, it is also different from its brother Mars6.
Because, this is a full-screen mobile phone in cooperation with Sharp.
As a supplier that has been cooperating since 2007, Sharp jointly researched and developed with Yike this time. In the end, it chose a less difficult hole-digging solution for digging holes, notches, and water-drop screens, while choosing between through-holes and blind holes.
The latter, which is lower in difficulty and cost, is also used above.
However, in order to maintain harmony between the top and bottom of the screen, the Pro version has canceled fingerprint recognition, while Mars6 still has a push-type fingerprint function.
"The cost of this screen is 30% higher than that of the regular version. Now Sharp's production is also low, and they are worried that the market will not recognize it enough." Fang Zhuo introduced the new machine to Larry, "The hole above, we
It is to drill holes in the backlight layer, which can improve the yield rate, and the camera is hidden under the screen."
"Unfortunately, such holes will affect the light transmittance and color cast of the screen. The R&D center is still working on more solutions."
"Including this fingerprint, our under-screen fingerprint solution may be completed next year, but if not... we have other solutions."
The "other solutions" Fang Zhuo refers to are still not using fingerprints, but introducing face recognition.
The head of Yike was talking eloquently, while the head of Google was toying with the Mars 6 Pro over and over in his hands, and even took out the previous generation Mars 5 in his pocket to compare.
The bezels are greatly reduced, the forehead and chin are gone, and the screen-to-body ratio is greatly improved.
At first, the keyboard was removed from the mobile phone and replaced with a touch screen, which greatly increased the screen area. Now having such a product in the palm of your hand is like another vivid trend.
"Mr. Fang, you should no longer use Mars for this mobile phone, but use another new series." Larry praised.
"Our design is a bit radical, but everyone is not sure enough," said Fang Zhuo.
Larry looked up at Mr. Fang and said, "A little more aggressive," less realistic and more humble.
He stroked the screen and said with a smile: "It seems that this model will be a big seller this year. Does Yike have any internal goals?"
"There is no target, and the production capacity cannot keep up." Fang Zhuo said, "But for us, we hope to create a new direction for smartphones, which is more conducive to our brand image."
Such as touch screen, such as Android, such as front camera, such as CMOS and camera algorithm... It is these, not just the advancement of hardware, which together shape Yike's global brand image.
Larry fell into thinking and suddenly said: "Yike's shipments next year will be directed towards Samsung."
Fang Zhuo shook his head: "Samsung is too powerful, we just sit back and watch."
"Can the annual shipment volume exceed 100 million units this year?" Larry asked again.
Fang Zhuo replied succinctly: "I have confidence."
Larry nodded, which was the main reason for this trip to send money.
Last year, Samsung shipped the most of the Yusan family, with 4.5 billion units, while Yike shipped 81.3 million units, and Apple shipped 73.17 million units. However, Samsung shipped all products in the mid- to low-end range, and only shipped flagship phones.
On the other hand, its Trump series is 61.8 million units.
Looking at the trends in the first eight months of this year, the global smartphone market is still growing rapidly.
In addition, "Kesheng", a subsidiary brand of Yike Holdings, has also entered operator channels overseas, which will definitely further increase its market share.
It is precisely because of this that Google prefers to sign multi-year contracts. Even if there are ice core problems, it is optimistic about the development of Yike.
Larry took a sip of coffee: "You guys really squeezed Nokia to death together."
"Wouldn't this just help you meet the challenge from Microsoft?" Fang Zhuo said with a smile.
Microsoft cannot support decent products on the mobile side, which is very different from Google.
Larry touched the Pro in his hand, seeking further cooperation opinions: "Mr. Fang, as you know, Google has always been very supportive of Yi Ke. I am willing to discuss our cooperation on the basis of the original $500 million."
"Or four years?" Fang Zhuo asked.
Larry nodded and said, "Yes."
Seeing Larry's love for the Pro, Fang Zhuo asked: "The Pro's design style is so radical, fingerprints have been removed, and the front camera has to be compromised. Are you confident in its market performance?"
Larry said without hesitation: "Of course."
"If you are confident, I will be even more confident." Fang Zhuo talked about product planning, "If this year's Pro version can be accepted by consumers, next year's design will be transferred to the standard version, and the chip performance will also meet the requirements.
Here’s a big improvement, Larry, if it were you and me, would you rather sign for a long term or a short term?”
Larry hesitated and said: "From the perspective of our cooperative relationship, actually, I think..."
Fang Zhuo interrupted: "Larry, like me, stay real. Tell me what you would choose."
Larry looked at Mr. Fang, then at the full-screen display in his hand. After a moment of silence, he said helplessly: "I shouldn't have asked you to take out this generation of mobile phones and show them to me."
This was his voluntary request and wanted to have a sneak peek.
"If you don't mention it, I will show it to you, who makes us an indestructible partner." Fang Zhuo said with a smile, "Yike is the king of Android phones. In the past six years, we have led the development of global smartphones together.
Inspur, I will still have this confidence in the future."
Larry compromised and said: "Three years, Mr. Fang, let's negotiate an incremental clause. After three years, we will continue to negotiate the contract according to market conditions."
Fang Zhuo looked at this old friend from Google and smiled: "Three years will be three years, and the increments will be increments. It's still awkward to talk about money all the time. Let them do it."
"Mr. Fang, you are really..." Larry tried to find a suitable description.
"If I really want to talk more about this, I should invite Lu Qi to the company." Fang Zhuo said, "Personally, I would rather give users a better experience. Google is indeed better than Bing."
powerful."
Larry arranged the mobile phones on the table, looked at the Mars 6 Pro with a higher screen ratio, and admitted: "Yes, Yike has always been very good in terms of user experience."
He said in a daze: "I'm looking forward to Yike's press conference at the end of the month. If you look at it this way, it might be a good decision for Samsung and Apple to release it in advance."
If they were both released in the same month, Yike's Pro version of Mars would definitely be more outstanding in comparison.
"Production capacity, production capacity, production capacity." Fang Zhuolian said the keyword three times, "This is a major problem that restricts us."
Larry nodded, feeling that Yike's design this time would definitely lead to a new trend.
He put the Mars 6 Pro on the table into his pocket and said with a smile: "When I return to Silicon Valley, I will definitely go to watch Yike's press conference."
"That's perfect." Fang Zhuo nodded, took out a new Pro from the drawer and put it in his pocket, "Let's go, I'll take you to visit the R&D center here in Shanghai. Sharp also has a joint venture here.
laboratory."
Larry nodded happily and was willing to take a look at Yike's R&D capabilities.
…
Lu Zhendong of Baidu still did not give up his efforts to promote cooperation even after being rejected many times by Mr. Yi Keqi.
However, Yike has a lot of tricks up its sleeve, so you have to be careful.
In addition to Yike, Baidu has also begun to connect with Apple and Samsung, intending to win over these two Yike rivals first.
Baidu has always had a "I don't give you money, you have to choose me" attitude on the mobile side. It was only after seeing Sogou spending money that it changed its strategy.
Unlike Yike, which has Sogou as a partner, Lu Zhendong believes that Samsung and Apple should be easy to negotiate, and there is no conflict of interest between the two parties. Instead, it is a trip to give money.
However, when Lu Zhendong met Zhang Yuanji, the president of Samsung in China, he felt a similar atmosphere.
"Baidu wants to sign a default engine? This is of course good, but it must comply with our similar cooperation." Zhang Yuanji was quite polite, "Our cooperation with Google is at least US$500 million a year."
"What? 500 million US dollars a year? Isn't your current cooperation with Google 800 million US dollars in three years?" Lu Zhendong was shocked and angry when he heard the familiar figure. He had confirmed the existing cooperation status of Samsung.
"The standards have been updated. Those are the numbers from the past. This year, no, I should say, this month, Google has signed new contracts with other companies based on market conditions." Zhang Yuanji explained seriously, "The new contract is based on US$500 million.
Basic."
Lu Zhendong felt that his face was a little swollen and asked: "The 'other company' you mentioned refers to..."
"It's Yike." Zhang Yuanji said, "We have obtained the latest news. If Mr. Lu doesn't believe it, we can ask Yike for confirmation."
It was hard for Lu Zhendong to believe that Google could offer such a huge contract, but he didn’t believe it once and twice. When it came to Samsung, it was hard for him not to believe it.
He raised a question: "Samsung didn't ask for money for the previous engine."
"Is Baidu willing to compensate?" Zhang Yuanji asked.
Lu Zhendong: "..."
Zhang Yuanji looked at Mr. Lu from Baidu and reminded: "Samsung is sincere in cooperating with Baidu, but if cooperation is really impossible, Sogou may also be interested."
Lu Zhendong suddenly felt a headache. Why was Baidu burning money in the search engine field...
This chapter has been completed!