Reborn since 1993

Chapter 745 Fighting between left and right
Also sitting in the Microsoft president's office was Panos, head of Microsoft's hardware division, sitting there expressionlessly.

In principle, Microsoft's hardware products should be managed by Panos' hardware department, but at Microsoft, when Bill Gates, the emperor of Microsoft, gets involved, then he is the principle.

Because the performance of Microsoft's hardware department before was really not that good. So much money was invested but it didn't make any progress. The performance was really disappointing.

Even a few years ago, due to the mistakes made by Microsoft's hardware department, it suffered a setback with Dongling Hi-Tech, which almost triggered Microsoft's first antitrust investigation.

Even though Microsoft survived the "small storm" caused by its hardware department, its stock price suffered significant losses, with more than $1 billion evaporating.

It would be strange if Bill Gates was satisfied with Microsoft's hardware division.

The digital video recorder project that Microsoft cooperated with Dongling Hi-Tech was introduced by Ed Fleiss, the head of Microsoft's gaming department. As he was a veteran of Microsoft and a close confidant of Bill Gates, it was natural for him to be in charge of this project.

In fact, in the past, when Microsoft entered the game console industry, Bill Gates bypassed the hardware department and directly appointed Ed Fleiss to take charge of the game console project.

As it turns out, Microsoft's hardware department is indeed a bit lagging behind. Its efforts in tablet computers and laptops have all been a lot of noise but little results. After all the efforts, the market share has been snatched away by other brands.

On the contrary, the console developed by the gaming department caused quite a stir and became one of the top three gaming consoles in the world!

As for Panos, he was naturally somewhat dissatisfied with Ed Fleiss, but he did not dare to show it in front of Bill Gates.

"For the current advertising, Microsoft has already cooperated with Tanglin Hi-Tech North America to put the advertisements for the stargazing digital video recorder on NBC, ABC, and TV stations in New York, Los Angeles, and other places!"

Ed Fleiss said, "As for distribution, we will mainly rely on the sales channels of Tanglin Hi-Tech North America Group and Microsoft. In addition, we have also reached agreements with Best Buy, Walmart and other companies, and Stargazing will enter these stores!"

In comparison, Dongling Hi-Tech's publicity and sales channels in America are indeed not as good as Microsoft's.

If Dongling Hi-Tech launches its own machines, it is hard to say whether it can enter stores like Best Buy.

After hesitating for a while, Ed Fleiss said to Bill Gates, "In terms of publicity, the Stargazing Digital Video Recorder should still follow the publicity strategy of Dongling Hi-Tech. They have more experience in publicity in terms of hardware!"

Before leaving Hanxi, Li Dongling handed a promotional strategy kit, which was also the advertising selling point of the stargazing digital video recorder, to Ed Fleiss.

Hearing this, Bill Gates glanced at him and didn't care too much. Although Microsoft is now a giant company, he also admitted that in terms of hardware, Microsoft is indeed not as good as Dongling Hi-Tech, otherwise it would not have used the condition of system transplantation of MIPS architecture chips in exchange for cooperation with Dongling Hi-Tech.

“I hope the Stargazing Digital Video Recorder will not disappoint the Microsoft Board of Directors!”

Bill Gates said to Ed Fleiss, with a hint of warning in his words.

The cooperation with Dongling Hi-Tech, including the stargazing digital video recorder project, was strongly promoted by Bill Gates.

In fact, Microsoft was quite dissatisfied with the fact that its cooperation with an Asian technology company had affected its relationship with Intel. Otherwise, this cooperation would not have been led by Ed Fleiss instead of being carried out through the hardware department.

But Bill Gates has always wanted Microsoft to make a breakthrough in hardware, so he agreed to this cooperation. If the project fails, it will be a blow to Bill Gates' prestige.

It is true that he is the emperor of Microsoft, but an emperor also needs to rely on prestige and achievements to maintain his power. For such a huge Microsoft empire, there are many factions within it, and there are also forces that are dissatisfied with Bill Gates.

Just like Ballmer with thick eyebrows and big eyes, he looks like he only follows Bill's lead, but if one day he becomes the president of Microsoft, I'm afraid the first thing he will do is to eliminate Bill Gates' influence!
This was the case in the past. Microsoft was once on the verge of collapse because of Netscape's antitrust lawsuit.

In order to ease external pressure and gain sympathy, the notorious Bill Gates had to announce his abdication, gave up his position as president of Microsoft, and appointed Ballmer to take over.

Bill Gates wanted to wait until the limelight had passed before returning to the position, but how could Ballmer, who had finally become the president, easily abdicate?
The result was that Ballmer believed that Bill Gates had already held a position and that as president, he had the right to manage Bill Gates and wanted to monopolize power.

How could Bill Gates, who used to be an emperor, allow anyone to challenge his authority in Microsoft, even if he abdicated?

The two of them fought openly and secretly for this. Even after Bill Gates stepped down, the Vista system he led suffered a disastrous defeat, which might have been due to the open and secret fighting between the two.

After Ballmer retired from Microsoft, he and Bill Gates were not strangers, but at least their relationship was not very close. They did not seem like old partners who had worked together for decades.

Faced with the pressure from Bill Gates, Ed Fleiss' heart sank slightly, but he still said, "I believe that stargazing will not disappoint the Microsoft board of directors!"

"Panos!"

Bill Gates tapped the table with his finger in the direction of Panos. "The hardware department must cooperate well with Ed Fleiss. This is Microsoft's first step in the hardware department. All departments of Microsoft must support Ed!"

"I understand, Mr. Gates!" Panos said with a smile.

But when he walked out of Bill Gates' office, Panos immediately stopped smiling and glanced at Ed Fleiss coldly, "Do you think you can gain a foothold in the hardware industry by relying on an Asian technology company?"

“I admit that Tanglin Hi-Tech has some reputation and has developed some interesting things, but this is America!”

Panos looked at Ed Fleiss with pity, as if he had experienced it before. "I don't know how you will face the wrath of Bill Gates and the board of directors when Microsoft's stock price drops due to the failure of stargazing!"

"Good luck!"

Panos doesn't believe that Microsoft can really make a big splash in the hardware industry just by cooperating with Dongling Hi-Tech. In Panos's eyes, Microsoft can't stand out in the hardware industry because it is excluded and targeted by the hardware industry.

In the past few years, Panos also wanted to give it a try, but nothing came of it. He is now a little discouraged, so he is naturally pessimistic about this stargazing project.

Ed Fries' heart tightened as he watched Panos pat him on the shoulder twice and then walk away.

But at this juncture, even if he wanted to quit, he had no chance and could only continue playing.

……

"So, Dongling Hi-Tech's headquarters didn't send any executives here?"

"What about Zhang Ao? He is the sales manager of Dongling Hi-Tech. When digital cordless phones were being promoted in old Europe, he fought against Siemens.

That battle was even recorded in the American MBA Business School case, but he didn’t come either?”

Ed Fries, who rushed to New York from Seattle, arrived at the headquarters of Dongling Hi-Tech North American Group. When he saw that there were only people led by Zhou Hualiang, but no one from Hanxi, he shouted to Zhou Hualiang in dissatisfaction.

He knew that Dongling Hi-Tech had many strong players, especially Zhang Ao, who had confronted Siemens at the center gate in old Europe and was quite famous.

Shenzhou digital cordless phone, as the "founding battle" of Dongling Hi-Tech, has countless classic scenes, whether it is the human sea marketing tactics used in old Europe, or the recharge and free phone activities in cooperation with Pacific Bell in America, which are still imitated by many companies.

"Calm down, Ed!"

Zhou Hualiang looked at Ed Fries and knew that he was a little nervous at this time.

Zhou Hualiang was actually a little unsure, but he couldn't lose his composure at this time. "I have already talked to Mr. Li Dongling on the phone, and he thinks there is no need to worry!
The Stargazing Digital Video Recorder will definitely sell well. Compared with the Shenzhou Digital Cordless Phone, this digital video recorder is much better in terms of both promotional channels and sales channels!"

Hearing Zhou Hualiang pull out Li Dongling's banner, Ed Fliess calmed down a little.

It is indeed as Zhou Hualiang said, when Shenzhou Telephone entered the American market, it was stretched to the limit, but in the end it turned the tide.

"Tomorrow at 8 o'clock, the digital video recorder will be available in all states of New York. After tomorrow's sales figures are released, everything will be settled!"

Whoever controls New York controls the world. New York is the largest metropolitan area in the United States and the city with the largest number of middle-class families. If you can control New York, it means that digital video recorders will control the majority.

It is said that this is to reassure Ed Fleiss, but how can Zhou Hualiang himself feel at ease? This is also his first battle after becoming the president of Dongling Hi-Tech North American Group.

If he fails in this battle, his position as the head of the North American Group will be shaken to some extent.

Zhou Hualiang had no intention of going home at all. At night, he stayed in the meeting room of Dongling Hi-Tech North America Group. There were several senior executives with him, and the number of Chinese executives was almost equal to that of white executives.

Companies where Chinese people climb up to senior management positions are rare in America, and only companies with Chinese capital backgrounds can achieve this.

"here we go!"

After a sound was heard in the conference room, it quickly became quiet, and Zhou Hualiang's eyes were also on the TV.

The TV screen was an advertisement for a local New York TV station. At the beginning of the screen, a "typical" American middle-class family appeared in the camera, a two-story townhouse with an area of ​​about 170 square meters, with a private driveway, garage, courtyard, swimming pool, etc.

The camera turned and saw a couple sitting in the living room, watching a football game together.

As the game progressed, the husband waved his fist excitedly. At this moment, the phone suddenly rang. After answering the call, the husband looked at the TV, picked up his clothes and went out.

Afterwards, the same footage appeared, but every time at a crucial moment, the game was not finished due to various reasons. This is also the normal state of middle-class families in America.

It looks glamorous, but one has to go to work, entertain, socialize, and take care of the family. Otherwise, the high annual property taxes, taxes, alimony, insurance, etc. can make the seemingly glamorous middle-class life disappear in an instant.

American middle-class families have very little time for themselves and cannot even watch a complete football game.

The commercials continued on TV. That day, the husband, as usual, dragged his tired body home. All that was playing on TV were boring commercials and soap operas. The game had already ended.

Just as the husband was about to get up, his wife came out of the room and turned on a star-gazing digital video recorder next to the TV.

Under the husband's surprised gaze, a football game was playing. With the operation of his wife's remote control, she could fast forward, rewind, skip commercials, and even enter the catalog to watch previous games.

The husband was watching TV, then looking at his wife beside him, and couldn't help but hug her, and the two embraced and kissed each other.

When the advertisement plays to this part, all men who see it know that the husband in the advertisement is not surprised by the stargazing, but by the gift given to him by his wife, which represents her care for him. A man remains a boy until he dies, and this is what he relies on!
"Watch the stars, let love be without regrets!"

The last TV commercial ends with this final slogan.

(End of this chapter)