Our Rise Era

Chapter 175 African Camera Phones! (6000 words in two parts)
09 years.

This past June.

The Internet is in constant dispute.

The low-end mobile phone market is booming.

The shipment volume of [Xiaomi 1] mobile phone, led by Zhang Yang, exceeded 6 million in 100 months. Although the data is still good, compared with the orders of millions of units in the previous month, the downward trend is already very obvious.

The domestic copycat mobile phones led by Xu Yunlong experienced a glorious period of about half a year in 08, but since entering 09...

But life became increasingly difficult, and even overnight, I lost the advantage of being an agent.

And everything...

Originated from February 09.

Perhaps he realized that Xu Yunlong and Zhang Yang were in the same boat, and if they continued to cooperate, the dominance of the market would eventually fall back into Zhang Yang's hands, making things easier for others.

Or maybe Guo Shanming wants to dominate the market alone...

The next day after Xu Yunlong purchased about half a year's worth of systems at one time!

Without any warning, the [R&D Department] suddenly announced something.

That is, after February, its [MTK] system will be completely open to all mobile phone practitioners in mainland China, and there will no longer be the concept of [agents].

What do you mean?
This means that the era in which mainland mobile phone manufacturers would purchase systems from the "spokespersons" who would make Zhang Xuyunlong and Zhang Yang the spokespeople for MTK and complete a certain number of MTK system orders a year and offer preferential prices has completely ended!

What made Xu Yunlong feel angry was!
After this announcement, the [MTK] system suddenly announced a huge price cut, from the previous 100 yuan per system and spare parts to an astonishing 90 yuan!
And this time the price reduction is for all mobile phone dealers in mainland China...

That is to say!

Xu Yunlong abided by the contract and purchased the [MTK] system and spare parts for half a year in advance, with each unit costing 10 yuan more than the market price!

This not only caused them to lose their competitive advantage in the Chinese mobile phone market, but also put them into an unprecedented disadvantage.

In the market, not only did we lose our competitive advantage, but we were actually at a competitive disadvantage!

From February to April...

Xu Yunlong brought his legal team to negotiate with the Research and Development Department, but until now, there has been no result.

The other party responded that they did not violate the agreement, but simply opened up the agent system and it was no longer an [exclusive authorization], that's all.

Moreover, they also declared publicly and seriously: "The prices of our systems fluctuate with the prices of raw materials... When the prices of raw materials and semiconductors fall, they should naturally follow the prices..."

Moreover, their attitude is very arrogant. If you want to sue, then sue. We will accompany you...

Anyway, a lawsuit is just a matter of wrangling, and it is common for it to take several months or even a year...

This sudden "backstab" caused the sales of the copycat mobile phone brand headed by Xu Yunlong to almost completely collapse overnight!

The rest of the copycat mobile phone manufacturers have risen strongly thanks to the promotion of low-priced systems and spare parts, and are frantically devouring their original market.

These people are even more ruthless than them. Some manufacturers, in order to make a name for themselves, will sell even if they don’t make any profit!
Over the past 4 months...

Low-end phones sold a total of nearly 2100 million units.

The total number of mobile phones owned by Xu Yunlong and Zhang Yang is only about 500 million.

Moreover, the profits of most mobile phones have been squeezed to the limit. In the past, they could make about 100 yuan after excluding various operating and assembly costs. Now, under the fierce competition in the market, it is common to make 50 yuan for the same price...

Under the crazy squeeze of the market, the mobile phone companies led by Xu Yunlong have less and less room for survival and can’t make much money at all!
They were forced to cut prices, which slightly increased sales. However, in May, the sales of the [copycat mobile phone] brand headed by Xu Yunlong did not increase much. Instead, the sales volume was only 30 units, which was barely acceptable, creating a new historical low in the past six months!
What’s even more suffocating is…

Someone has done a special data.

That is, the goods Xu Yunlong bought from the MTK system are completely disproportionate to the actual shipment volume!
There are nearly 10 million mobile phones in stock, and there are more than 5 million units in stock!

Half a year later, not even half of the data has been completed!

The warehouse is probably piled up like a mountain!
Moreover, these days Xu Yunlong followed Zhang Yang and frantically invested in various refrigerator and color TV industries...

I have emptied my family's assets again...

Unless the prices of these systems and spare parts are further reduced, otherwise...

Under the pressure from the market and source manufacturers, with internal and external troubles, there is only one way out, which is death!
A blogger posted a video on [Dou Ni] and [Ai Ku] specifically about this incident.

In the video...

There are criticisms of the [R&D Department]…

There is also sympathy for Xu Yunlong.

A conclusion that everyone knows was reached.

[The rise and fall of Zhang Yang and Xu Yunlong, and even the tragedy of China's photovoltaic industry in 08, all reveal one thing]

【That is the competition in the market, which is always cruel. 】

[The source technology has been controlled...]

[Your life or death depends entirely on the other party's luck! ]

……

.......................................

"Mr. Guo, China's low-end mobile phone manufacturers are now firmly under our control!"

"We occupy nearly 60% of the market..."

"There are also new operating systems for low-end mobile phones on the market, but the total sales volume is less than one million, so there is nothing to worry about. The sales volume in China in May was even more dismal, and there is no sign of any trend!"

"..."

6 month 7 day.

【R&D Department】

When Guo Shanming saw the current half-year sales of Hua Xia mobile phones, a smile appeared on his face.

Over the past six months...

As the helmsman of China's low-end mobile phones.

Guo Shanming has a very strong desire for control.

In his opinion, all agents and distributors are just working for him...

They [R&D department] can train them to do everything...

It includes assembly, system personnel training, after-sales service, and even some publicity work.

however……

The premise is that all manufacturers are controllable and must cooperate with their [R&D department] to act.

The [MTK System Development Alliance] established in the second half of 08 is actually a one-man show for the [R&D Department]...

……

All of this stems from the fact that Shengxing suddenly switched to Android and joined the Android Alliance.

In the millennium, Shengxing and R&D department had a long honeymoon period.

The combination of the two parties is a strong combination, one market, one technology...

The "Little Magical Power" that was once popular in China was the product of the two's first collaboration.

That year, they killed all the gods and Buddhas that stood in their way, and even big brands like [Novia] were outshined...

However, who would have thought that at the end of the golden age of [Xiao Shentong], when [Shengxing] started to engage in semiconductors and self-developed production...

The two families began to disagree, and during this period, they discussed future development plans, big and small, no less than a hundred times.

One hopes that the other party will specialize in marketing, and they will take care of the R&D.

The other one hopes to do research and development themselves, and in semiconductors, and even hopes that the [R&D Department] will be responsible for designing mobile phone chips, while they will be responsible for foundry...

The difference in concepts eventually led to the breakup of the two companies, and Shengxing abandoned the MTK system overnight and turned to Android's Android Mobile Phone R&D Alliance.

……

All the past events were like a thorn, piercing Guo Shanming's heart.

After suffering a loss at the hands of Shengxing, he no longer allowed anything beyond his control to happen, and he would never watch a manufacturer grow to the point where they would negotiate terms with him!
Zhang Yang was so flamboyant that his era had just begun but was ended by him.

Xu Yunlong was like this, and his emerging talent was cut down by him.

The same will happen to a rising mobile phone manufacturer in the future...

He wants to control the entire core industrial chain and always be the best in the market!
……

"In the past six months, our [MTK] system has sold 3000 million units..."

"Among them, about 1000 million are the goods that Xu Yunlong wanted..."

"According to the latest information, Xu Yunlong has begun to gradually withdraw from our Chinese market. Many of our Chinese partners have begun to close down one after another. The final outcome should be the same as Zhang Yang's, and he will be half-dead in the mobile phone industry..."

"..."

Guo Shanming nodded after reading the information.

China's current low-end mobile phone market is in a state of fierce competition.

Everyone is engaged in a price war, and it is getting more and more crazy, with all kinds of tricks emerging one after another.

A brand appears today, and another one appears tomorrow. It has already reached a white-hot stage.

Until now...

There is no sign of any brand suddenly rising strongly.

The rules and regulations of the market were all set by Guo Shanming.

Just as he closed his eyes and prepared to plan his next step...

The secretary received a call.

Immediately afterwards...

Somewhat stunned.

Then...

"Zhang Yang sold 100 million mobile phones in Africa!"

"Africa?"

A piece of news from Africa made him a little confused!
Immediately afterwards...

He took the information and took a look...

After reading this...

Even more confused!

what's the situation?
..........................................

confusion……

poverty……

behind……

Dry...

It is synonymous with Africa.

This was the most intuitive feeling Lin Jiang had on the first day he followed Zhang Yang to Africa.

That was around October 08.

Follow Olympic champion, Kenuru to Kenya, Africa.

Lin Jiang entered Zhengshi Food Co., Ltd. (the predecessor of Zhengyang Group) as an intern in 07, and followed Zhang Yang to distribute flyers everywhere. He experienced the promotion of instant noodles and the era of copycat mobile phones. He never dreamed that one day he would come to Africa.

First day in Kenya...

The entire Kenyan airport was packed with people. Countless black masses, yes, truly black masses, surrounded the entire airport like crazy, covering the sky and the sun, scaring Lin Jiang so much that his face turned pale.

That is……

Kenya's welcome to the Olympic champion.

As a staff member from China, Lin Jiang's treatment in Kenya is naturally good.

The first night, I stayed in a nice hotel.

But from the second night on, when we really started working...

Lin Jiang realized that the days of hardship were coming.

The days of investigating villages and tribes in Kenya made him feel what despair is.

Due to the lack of water and electricity, and the constant buzzing of giant African mosquitoes, almost every market worker who accompanied the group fell seriously ill over the course of a few months.

A team of more than 30 people was reduced to only people...

But the results were extremely embarrassing.

Come to Africa to sell mobile phones...

It's simply... hell mode.

It's really bad here. In China, there are plugs everywhere, but in Africa, I couldn't find a mobile phone charging station after searching for a long time...

The telecommunications providers here are in a mess. The African telecommunications market is not well developed, and the coverage areas of various telecommunications operators are limited. In a small Kenyan town, there are more than a dozen telecommunications stations from different countries. The service fees for calls between telecommunications operators are so expensive that it makes people question their lives.
At the same time, the consumption capacity here is shockingly low. Domestic phones are all 400 yuan, but here people can only afford a 100 yuan phone at most. Some users can't even afford yuan...

……

From October 08 to February 10!

Lin Jiang led his team from Kenya to eight African countries including Nigeria, conducting research and analysis along the way...

I found that the situation is similar almost everywhere. Some slums are even more exaggerated. Many people don’t even know what a mobile phone is!

Oh shit!

Coming to this place to sell mobile phones, isn't this a complete failure?
This was Lin Jiang’s first feeling.

Just when Lin Jiang thought that Mr. Zhang's decision was seriously wrong...

A speech by Zhang Yang...

But he pulled Lin Jiang out of his confusion!

..........................................

"Once upon a time, I had an African brother!"

"He likes a lot of our Chinese technology..."

“I like listening to music, watching movies, MP3, MP4, and photography…”

"He once told me that his dream was to be a photographer and capture the best scenery and the most beautiful moments in the world..."

“He put a lot of effort into this…”

"On mountain paths, in bustling markets, in deserted wilderness..."

"He takes pictures almost every day. He even told me that photography is his favorite thing in his life. It is his life..."

"However……"

"One day, he suddenly smashed the camera and broke down crying..."

"I asked him why..."

"He told me that it was because he couldn't take a good picture of himself... It's so sad for a photographer to not be able to take a good picture of himself no matter how hard he tries!"

"He told me that he was clearly not like that, but in the photo, apart from his white teeth and eyes, he looked like a blurry shadow!"

"Yes, a dark, blurry shadow!"

"..."

Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.

Lin Jiang looked at Zhang Yang on the stage excitedly and fanatically.

That figure was passionate and surging.

Although, in the past few months, he has heard Zhang Yang speak in French countless times.

Starting from Kenya, to Ghana, to Congo, and then to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and Africa’s top oil producer…

But every time when Zhang Yang came on stage, Lin Jiang felt that he was standing at the forefront of the times and becoming a part of the wave of this era!

Along the way, he has been leading the advertising team, following Zhang Yang's footsteps, and walking continuously...

Sell ​​wherever you go!

not far away……

Trucks from China were parked around.

The truck was filled with some "copycat cell phones" from China...

wrong!

It should be said [Eagle Mobile Phone]!
Off the court.

Countless black friends stared at the passionate Chinese man on the stage with excitement and enthusiasm.

In fact, countless manufacturers have come to Africa over the years.

However, except for old brands such as [Novia] and [Samsung], many manufacturers often leave here not long after arriving.

These manufacturers rate Africa appallingly low!

During this period, they also launched many mobile phones, but none of these phones could solve their problems!
what is the problem?
Photo problem!

"The words of that black brother pierced my heart..."

"It's like a knife stabbing me... "

"For a long time, I tossed and turned at night and couldn't fall asleep..."

"Yes! Seeing a young man with a dream end his dream right in front of me, that feeling is really despairing..."

"From that day on, I vowed to make a mobile phone that can help our African brothers take photos, and take beautiful photos!"

"This process was very difficult. Our team invested nearly tens of millions of dollars in research and development..."

"During this period, we encountered a lot of resistance. We were also questioned and ridiculed. At one point, the team was on the verge of collapse and fell apart!"

“But our team never gave up on this dream!”

"Finally, we succeeded. We solved the biggest problem that has plagued the global mobile phone market for years, no, I should say, the entire century!"

"That is, a camera phone!"

"Now, welcome our Olympic champion, our African lion, the Kenyan eagle, the long-distance running champion on the grassland, our most beloved African brother Mr. Kenuru, to demonstrate our [Eagle 1] for us!"

"..."

Lin Jiang was so excited listening to this.

During last year's Olympics, Mr. Zhang spent several million RMB to sign Olympic champion Kenuru, but he didn't do anything about it, and he was very confused.

but now……

When I saw the tall long-distance running champion excitedly walk up to the stage, take out their [Lion 1] phone, and take a photo of himself...

When the big screen in the square of Abuja, the capital, perfectly projected the image of Kenuru after taking the photo, Lin Jiang couldn't help but applaud excitedly!
And there was a burst of cheers at the scene!

Everyone watched excitedly as the Olympic champion raised his phone and kept shouting the slogan "Lion 1, Lion 1..."

They couldn't help but start shouting too!

The entire scene erupted in excitement like a tsunami...

"Next, we randomly invite a few friends to come on stage to take a photo with our African lion, the king of long-distance running, Mr. Kenuru!"

"..."

After Zhang Yang shouted this.

The sound that erupted from the scene was deafening...

With Zhang Yang's casual finger...

The lucky winners excitedly ran onto the stage and, under the guidance of the staff, excitedly took photos with Kenuru.

Taking photos one by one...

One by one, they raised their hands and rushed forward...

The big screen showed pictures...

……

Countless things stimulate the hearts of African brothers, making them stare at that mobile phone fanatically...

Just when the atmosphere was at its most heated and climaxed...

Zhang Yang pushed up his glasses.

Then, a smile appeared on his face.

"All right!"

"Brothers and family members from Africa, now is the most exciting time!"

"Everyone, look at those trucks!"

"..."

Countless pairs of eyes turned to look at the side of the stage and listened to the trucks.

When the truck door opened...

Everyone saw the beautifully packaged boxes with the image of Kenuru holding a mobile phone!

“How much does this phone cost?”

"500?"

"400?"

"No, this phone is only 388!"

"Yes, converted into RMB, we only sell it for 388!"

"..."

"..."

Africa gives people the impression of being poor and backward...

but!
The price of 388 is still a long way from being cheap in a place like the capital, but it is not expensive either.

in particular……

When a mobile phone that allows them to take beautiful photos appears!
This is almost historic, even revolutionary!

Countless figures were scrambling to get there and pushing forward frantically...

And Zhang Yang walked down step by step among these figures.

under the sun……

In Lin Jiang's eyes...

It feels like this person is a "god".

Looking at the dark crowd in the distance and the staff who are busy with work...

Lin Jiang was in a trance...

Oh shit!

Who would have thought that a camera phone owned by an African black brother would be so popular?
Immediately afterwards...

He saw Zhang Yang coming in front of him.

"Mr. Lin!"

"boss Zhang……"

"Next, we will only do one thing. I will take my mobile phone with me and wherever I give a speech, our advertisements and service points will be placed there..."

"Don't worry, Mr. Zhang. We have 30 sales leaders from China, and now there are about of them in Africa. We will place advertisements wherever you go..."

"Row!"

Lin Jiang nodded.

Look into the distance!
In the distance, countless workers were frantically pasting all kinds of [Lion 1] advertisements on various telephone poles and roadside signs...

Zhang Yang also saw those figures who kept climbing up and down to post advertisements, and then silently looked into the distance...

far away!

Several leaders from the capital Abuja, led by Cy Vance, a former coach of Kenuru, came over excitedly.

"Mr. Zhang Yang, I didn't expect that you speak French so fluently!"

“Haha, that’s okay…”

"Mr. Zhang Yang, the mayor of our capital Abuja, wants to talk to you about [photovoltaic]... The electricity supply in Abuja is very tight, but there is a lot of sunshine. I mentioned photovoltaic power generation to them, and unexpectedly, they were very interested!"

Cy Vance, who used to be a coach, was now wearing a suit and looked like an upper-class African.

At this moment...

He is the agent of [Lions 1] in Africa, and also Zhang Yang’s vanguard in Africa...

As the Lion 1 camera phone became popular in Africa, Cyvans also earned a lot of business fees.

At this moment, Cyvans promoted another of Zhang Yang's industries...

Photovoltaic!

(End of this chapter)