Reborn since 1993

Chapter 287 Eye-punching
"So, Tanglin Hi-Tech is going to join forces with Microsoft to promote the USB Alliance?"

Bill Gates put his face on his hands and asked Walter on the other end of the transoceanic phone call.

In the office, there were also Microsoft Vice President Ballmer, head of public relations Grant, head of hardware department Panos and others who were summoned.

Most of these people, except Ballmer, are close confidants of Bill Gates. For a giant company of the size of Microsoft, there are also different factions within it, just like Bill Gates and Ballmer at the moment. It seems that the two of them are very close. They teamed up to drive away Paul Allen, the other founder of Microsoft. Since then, Microsoft has entered the era of Bill Gates.

As the emperor of Microsoft, Bill Gates has absolute influence, but this does not mean that there are no other factions within Microsoft.

Ballmer, who is sitting opposite Bill Gates, also has a group of supporters behind him, as well as people from Wall Street institutions working at Microsoft. After all, the Microsoft pie is so big, who doesn’t want to get an extra piece of it.

"Yes, the Shenzhou USB flash drive is definitely an epoch-making product. If Microsoft can obtain the North American agency rights for the Shenzhou USB flash drive, it will definitely gain huge profits!

In addition, Li Dongling, the founder of Donglin Hi-Tech, promised that if the two parties reach a cooperation, he is willing to recommend you, President Gates, to be the first president of the USB Alliance! "

When he heard Walter's last words, Bill Gates' eyes flashed, but he didn't show it.

"Guys, what do you think of this?" After hanging up the phone, Bill Gates asked the people in front of him.

"This is just a little trick. Tanglin Hi-Tech wants to use Microsoft's influence to promote the USB Alliance!"

Ballmer laughed and said, in his eyes, this method is not a clever move at all. It can be seen at a glance that when Microsoft started, it also took advantage of IBM, and in the end it did not affect the two sides turning against each other!
"Donngling High-tech needs Microsoft. If it can implement a set of USB interface standards on its own, there is no need to go to Microsoft at all. Now we have to see whether Microsoft wants to help. The decision lies with us... in your hands, Gates."

When Ballmer was talking, he looked at Bill Gates. He really knew his partner of more than ten years very well. At this time, he looked at Bill Gates and still missed his previous relationship with Dong. Whether there was a feud between Ling Gao Ke or not, he was sure that Bill Gates had not forgotten the lawsuit that made him lose face.

Bill Gates did not express his position directly, but asked Panos, "What do you think of the Shenzhou USB flash drive? Is there any chance that it can completely replace floppy disks, recorder discs and other products like Walter said?!"

Panos is the successor to Spencer, the former Microsoft hardware department manager. After Spencer was kicked out, he inherited the mess.
Compared with his predecessor, Panos is more pragmatic. He has not done any earth-shattering things in the past few years, but he has quietly eliminated the negative public opinion and influence that had previously shrouded Microsoft's hardware department.

And it has re-established cooperation with HP, Dell, Compaq and even IBM Computers. Microsoft ranks first in North America among independent mouse brand shipments. Logitech cannot sell Microsoft mice in the North American market.

"If it is true as Walter said, then it is only a matter of time before the Shenzhou USB flash drive replaces the floppy disk and CD recorder!"

"However," Panos' face was as calm as water, "If the USB standard is really implemented according to the standards of Shenzhou USB flash drives, then in the future, the Silver Sable mouse and other computer peripheral products of Donglin Hi-Tech may be used. It has received orders from major computer manufacturers around the world, and has even become the world’s largest shipper of computer peripheral equipment!”

What is the standard? Whoever masters the standard will take the lead and eventually dominate the entire industry. This is not empty talk.

When Bill Gates heard this, he was not worried. Instead, he laughed, "If Microsoft is also the founder of the USB Alliance, and Microsoft and Donglin High-tech are on the same starting line, can Microsoft's hardware department defeat Donglin High-tech?" ?”

When Bill Gates asked this, Panos's face became a little tense. Sitting as the manager of Microsoft's hardware department, can he say that he can't beat Silver Sable, a subsidiary of Tanglin Hi-Tech? !
If he is timid before fighting, then he, the manager of Microsoft's hardware department, doesn't have to work anymore and can just pack up and leave. "The Silver Sable Mouse has the advantage of being the first to register a patent. In fact, the product is not much more technologically advanced than Microsoft and Logitech products. Microsoft's hardware department can develop products that surpass the Silver Sable Mouse technology!" Pano said. Si gritted his teeth and said, at this time, he had to say yes even if it was no.

"Then agree to Tanglin Hi-Tech!"

Bill Gates said with clear eyes, "Microsoft and Donglin Hi-Tech are working together to promote the USB Alliance standard. For Microsoft, this is also an opportunity to extend Microsoft's influence to the hardware industry."

Microsoft's desire to enter the computer hardware industry has always been hindered. If the USB Alliance standard can be implemented, Microsoft will be equivalent to planting a nail in the hardware industry!
It's like boiling a frog in warm water. As long as such standards are implemented a few more times, Microsoft's influence in the hardware industry will become greater and greater. If those computer manufacturers want to drive Microsoft away, it will not be so easy. The operating system Coupled with hardware standards, it is enough for Microsoft to firmly control the entire computer industry.

Of course, it would be even better for Bill Gates to become the first president of the USB Alliance. It can increase his influence and reputation and let computer users around the world know his contribution to the computer industry. !

Seeing Bill Gates' statement, Ballmer, Panos, Grant and others all nodded and agreed to form the USB Alliance. For Microsoft, it is not a big deal. They also use what Bill Gates decides. No objection.

……

"Mainland Donglin High-tech Company has reached a flash memory technology agreement with Japan's Toshiba. Donglin High-tech has obtained a five-year flash memory technology license from Toshiba for a patent fee of up to 8.9 million US dollars per year. This is what the mainland technology company has done so far. The most expensive licensing fee paid for a single technology!”

A piece of news first came out from the media in Singapore, and then was reprinted by Hong Kong media, and then entered Guangdong Province, and was subsequently reported by domestic television stations, newspapers, radio stations and other news media.

As soon as this news came out, it caused an uproar. It spends nearly 9 million US dollars every year, almost 70 to 80 million yuan at a sky-high price, just to buy a technology license. This is almost a fantasy in China.

Many media have previously reported that Tanglin Hi-Tech has invested heavily in technology and R&D. However, because Tanglin Hi-Tech is not a listed company, it has not announced specific R&D expenses. However, as soon as the news came out this time, it attracted the attention of the entire domestic technology industry. Everyone was shocked by it, and the outside world saw for the first time how money-burning Tanglin Hi-Tech can be!

Spending such a large amount of money just to obtain a technology license, it is hard to say whether it can be repaid, which naturally aroused all kinds of discussions.

However, Tanglin Hi-Tech has not responded to the overwhelming public opinion from the outside world, nor has it stated what it will do after buying this technology.

In fact, when Donglin Hi-tech approached Toshiba and expressed its intention to obtain the patent license for flash memory, Toshiba was very open-minded and the conditions were very harsh. They kept asking what products Donglin Hi-tech would develop using flash memory technology. They even have to take a direct commission from products that use Toshiba flash memory!

Donglin Hi-Tech has been wrangling with Toshiba for a long time, and is even ready to give up Toshiba and try its luck with Samsung and American manufacturers.

It is true that Toshiba is the most advanced in flash memory technology, but many manufacturers such as Samsung and America also have it. Toshiba has licensed flash memory technology to many manufacturers before, and the asking price is not particularly expensive. However, when it comes to Donglin Hi-Tech from China, it is The lion opened his mouth.

In the end, when Donglin High-Tech was about to give up, Toshiba was relieved, but it also put forward stringent requirements. It had to pay Toshiba a patent fee of nearly 10 million US dollars every year before it was willing to give the flash memory patent to Donglin High-Tech.

Toshiba feels that with such a high licensing fee, no matter what storage products Donglin Hi-Tech develops, they may not get any advantage in the end. Toshiba should not lose money this time!

(End of this chapter)