Reborn in 08, a heretical cultivator starting a business

Chapter 226 Motorola's Twilight, Ambition for the Future of Mobile Phones

If it's really like Geely, the entire R&D team for future mobile phones will be poached.

Wang Junshan had nowhere to cry!

Restrictions must be imposed!

"Chairman Wang, did you call me here because Future Technology is also going to make mobile phones?" Zhou Ping got straight to the point.

Wang Junshan nodded: "To be honest, we are already working on our future phone, but progress is very slow. We need a top-notch expert like President Zhou to join us."

Zhou Ping was not surprised.

He conducted an investigation when Tang Jinghe first met him.

Discover Future Technology poached some mobile phone R&D engineers, naturally intending to develop smartphones.

But that's all; it's not enough to completely win him over.

We can't let him relinquish his position as Vice President of Motorola; we're going all in on Future Technology.

After all, a lean camel is bigger than a horse.

Besides, Motorola isn't dead yet!
"I wonder what kind of mobile phone Chairman Wang plans to make? A feature phone? Or one with MediaTek technology... or an Android smartphone?"

Zhou Ping asked the key question.

If it were just a feature phone or a cheap MTK knockoff, Zhou Ping wouldn't even consider future technology, and it would be impossible for him to join.

Unfortunately, in 2009, MTK was synonymous with counterfeit phones.

Not just Zhou Ping, everyone looked down on MTK.

In fact, MTK in 2015 was difficult for people to accept.

"Neither!" Wang Junshan waved his hand.

"???" Zhou Ping was dumbfounded: "Chairman Wang, you're not making feature phones, nor MediaTek phones, nor Android smartphones, then what are you making?"

That's all!
Wang Junshan smiled faintly: "Our goal is to create the iPhone of the East!"

"!!!"

"The iPhone of the East!"

"You want to be like the iPhone, developing your own operating system and creating a complete system ecosystem?"

Zhou Ping was startled, then smiled and said, "Chairman Wang, you must be joking. This joke isn't funny at all."

"Mr. Zhou, I'm not joking," Wang Junshan said with a smile.

"I know that Motorola has started developing Android phones, but as you know, Android is still in its infancy and very immature, with very few applications. It's not as good as iOS, and it's not even as good as Symbian."

Zhou Ping wholeheartedly agreed: "Yes, Android is indeed not as good as Symbian right now. At least Symbian has a very rich application ecosystem, while Android is just getting started. But Android has a powerful kernel and a high starting point, so it will definitely surpass Symbian in the future. I am still very optimistic about Android!"

"How does it compare to iOS?"

"..."

Zhou Ping fell into deep thought, and after a long while shook his head: "There's a high probability we won't be able to catch up."

"iOS started earlier, while Android started later. iOS is a closed ecosystem with better compatibility and optimization. Android, on the other hand, is open and can grow faster, but its compatibility, optimization, and other aspects are far inferior to the closed iOS. This results in a significantly worse user experience on Android compared to iOS."

Wang Junshan nodded: "Since Android is no match for iOS, why should future technology insist on using Android?"

"Just so that it will always be inferior to the iPhone and always be Apple's foil?"

"This..." Zhou Ping's expression was incredibly interesting.

He has seen through the future trend; Android is the future!

Only by actively embracing Android and vigorously developing Android phones can we find a way out.

Whether it's Nokia, Motorola, LG, Sony Ericsson... it's all the same.

Only by quickly shifting to Android and going all in can we rise to prominence.

Upon meeting him, Wang Junshan completely overturned his worldview and ruined his future prospects!
The problem is that what they said was reasonable and well-founded!

Android simply doesn't have an advantage over iOS!

If it has no advantage, then why bother making Android phones?
If we don't use Android, what operating system can we use?
Microsoft's mobile operating system is even worse.

China Mobile's system also struggles to gain traction.

What is the future direction of smartphone development?

Zhou Ping frowned, looking completely lost.

Wang Junshan smiled faintly: "Therefore, building a completely domestic operating system from scratch and fully benchmarking against iOS is the right path and the correct way out."

Zhou Ping frowned: "In principle, that's true. But creating an operating system isn't that easy. Even with future technology, it will take a very long time."

"Even if we start now, it will take at least until early next year to complete. By then, Android will likely have already made significant progress, and your operating system will be destined to fall behind."

Wang Junshan nodded: "Theoretically, yes, but what if the OS had been launched last year?"

"what!"

Zhou Ping was startled: "Chairman Wang, you started developing an operating system last year? You're not kidding me?"

"of course."

“This…” Zhou Ping fell silent.

It completely exceeded his expectations.

He originally thought that the limit of future technology would be making Android smartphones.

I never expected that they wouldn't be making Android smartphones, but rather their own operating system and phones, aiming to create the Apple of the East!

That's ridiculously strong!
"Chairman Wang, may I ask what stage your self-developed operating system has reached?"

After Zhou Ping finished speaking, he realized he had been presumptuous and quickly added, "Of course, I can sign a confidentiality agreement, and I will not leak any information under any circumstances."

Wang Junshan waved his hand: "It doesn't matter."

In a while, Future OS will hold a developer conference, inviting application developers to adapt their applications to Future OS.

It will all be made public eventually; whether or not there are leaks is not important.

Moreover, Wang Junshan believed in Zhou Ping's character.

"The pilot version has been completed and is currently being improved and optimized."

"The pilot version is finished! You've succeeded!"

Zhou Ping was horrified.

"I was lucky," Wang Junshan said modestly.

"This isn't luck; it's absolute courage, extraordinary boldness, and terrifying execution!"

"If even one thing is missing, it can't be done, and we wouldn't even dare to do it!"

"Right now, iOS and Android are just starting out and there isn't much code yet, so this is the best time to follow up and develop a domestic operating system."

"No wonder Future Tech has been making a lot of acquisitions lately."

"First, we acquired Wanwang, then we acquired Tiantian Dongting and PPS, and we're even in negotiations with Gaode."

"So it was all for building the ecosystem of the future OS!"

Zhou Ping connected this to Future Technology's recent series of major moves and instantly understood everything:

"Wanwang, a network infrastructure service provider, has five data centers that can serve as the IDC for future operating systems!"

"Tiantian Dongting focuses on mobile music and can become the online music software and music player for future OS."

"PPS can become a streaming video platform and video player."

"Gaode can become the navigation and map software for future operating systems."

"Add WeChat, Vipshop, and WeChat Farm, and Future OS will have social software, e-commerce software, and games!"

"I guess you're also developing basic applications like browsers and input methods at the same time."

"In this way, the ecosystem of the future OS can be built directly, and it can run completely even without third-party software."

"It's not much worse than iOS, and it even has an advantage over Android."

"Amazing, really amazing!"

"You're going to build an entire mobile ecosystem empire!"

Everyone underestimated future technology, and they underestimated you!

Wang Junshan smiled faintly: "To be frank, this is just the tip of the iceberg of the future technological empire."

"There's an even more terrifying plan?" Zhou Ping was speechless. It was unexpected, utterly unexpected.

But Wang Junshan's calm expression didn't seem like he was bragging at all.

That means the ecosystem development of smartphones is really just the tip of the iceberg!
How powerful will future technology be?
Zhou Ping was no longer calm; he was completely unsettled.

"Of course, the future is bright, but the road is tortuous."

"Even with an excellent operating system, you can't succeed without an excellent smartphone."

"So, Mr. Zhou, have you considered moving your business to another location?"

"Motorola, which is in its twilight years, is destined to decline, and it's only a matter of the next two years. There's no room for a big shot like you."

"Why not come to Future Technology and serve as the president of the Future Mobile Phone Business Unit, and concurrently as the R&D director!"

"Let's write a legend together, crush Android, and defeat Nokia, LG, Sony Ericsson, and even Samsung and Apple!"

"What about Motorola?" Zhou Ping asked, full of surprise.

Sony Ericsson is already on the table, but Motorola isn't?

Wang Junshan sighed: "Well... I reckon Motorola will be dead before we even get started. You know Motorola's current situation better than anyone."

"!!!" Zhou Ping's lips twitched, but he couldn't refute it.

This is true.

In 2006, Motorola held a 21.1% global market share, ranking second in the world.

In 2007, it was only 14.3%, a sharp decrease of one-third.

By last year, it had dropped to only 8.3%, almost halved.

This year, internal forecasts predict that market share will be reduced to only 4%.

Moreover, most of them were feature phones.

It might only be 2% next year!
For a small brand, a 2% global market share is considered good.

But for a top giant like Motorola, a 2% market share would mean serious losses and be unsustainable!

That's why Motorola started splitting up next year and looking for a buyer.

Zhou Ping was perfectly clear about this: "Alas, who could have imagined that the former world number one would fall to this state?"

During the era of the first mobile phone, Motorola was number one, but was later surpassed by Nokia, and then became number two.

But now... it's a long story.

"Those that fail to keep up with the times are destined to be eliminated by the times!"

Wang Junshan spoke slowly, as if he were talking about a company, a system, or even a person!
Even Zhou Ping fell silent.

Is he implying something about me?
Wang Junshan chuckled. That's right, I'm using PUA on you!
"Next, it won't just be Motorola that goes bankrupt," Wang Junshan continued his blatant deception.

Zhou Ping, Vice President and General Manager of Motorola's Mobile Business Unit.

You can't fool them without putting in some effort!
"Who else will go bankrupt?"

Zhou Ping was stunned: "Ericsson may go bankrupt completely and be fully acquired by Sony!"

Ericsson was one of the first to collapse. On the verge of bankruptcy, it formed a joint venture with Sony in 2001 to create Sony Ericsson, with each party holding 50% of the shares.

But two years later, Ericsson was completely acquired by Sony.

Wang Junshan smiled calmly: "Ericsson is doomed, Sony won't last long either, and BlackBerry's future is also bleak."

"Of course, there's also Nokia, the current absolute hegemon, which won't last more than a few years!"

"what?"

"Will Nokia go under too?"

"how is this possible?"

Disbelief appeared on Zhou Ping's previously calm face.

In 2009, Nokia was still number one in the world.

How could it just suddenly become obsolete?

Wang Junshan smiled faintly: "Nothing is impossible. The wave of smartphones is coming in a whirlwind. The feature phones of the past and the semi-smartphones of today will all become obsolete."

"So, Mr. Zhou, you also need to seriously consider your own development and future. If you don't want to miss out on the great era of smartphones, and don't want to sink into the abyss with Motorola and only be able to admire the fish from the edge of the abyss."

Zhou Ping was completely unsettled.

Thinking carefully about Wang Junshan's words, I found them to make a lot of sense.

The era of true smartphones has fully arrived!
Apple's initial foray, the release of Android, and the entry of Future Technology!

This seems to be the beginning of a true smartphone, a complete redesign from the operating system level.

It will completely end Nokia's Symbian system!

It's easy to imagine that the future will likely be a competition between iOS, Android, and future operating systems.

I really need to plan my future development carefully.

Otherwise, they might be swept away by this tide of the times.

As for staying with Motorola, that's definitely out of the question.

Last year, Motorola lost nearly 284 billion RMB!

It definitely can't hold on any longer.

Seeing Zhou Ping deep in thought, Wang Junshan smiled and said:
“We have a future OS system and a complete ecosystem, while you have hardware R&D capabilities and supply chain advantages.”

"Join the future of technology, and together we'll create the iPhone of the East, crushing Android, crushing Nokia, and even crushing Apple!"

"This..." Zhou Ping found it hard not to be tempted.

This seems to be the best option right now.

Motorola is doomed, I definitely have to switch companies!
As for Apple, it's hopeless. They don't lack R&D directors or vice presidents.

The Android market is still in its early stages, and companies like Samsung, HTC, Sony Ericsson, and others have no shortage of vice presidents and R&D directors.

Which established giant doesn't have several R&D directors or deputy directors?

Which company doesn't have a dozen or so vice presidents?

They're all got enough people, so even if Zhou Ping wanted to go, it would be difficult.

If large companies are out of the question, then the only option left is to consider the most promising emerging companies.

Without a doubt, the future mobile phone is the best choice.

We're just starting out and we're short of a research and development director.

With WeChat, there's no shortage of users!

With Vipshop and Youtuan.com, there's no shortage of sales channels.

They even built the system!

It also has the strong support of Future Technology Group.

It's ridiculously strong.

It is absolutely the best choice and the best destination for me, without exception!

Any missed opportunity will be a lifelong regret.

After all, if he didn't agree, Wang Junshan could still try to poach other people.

Motorola has more than one R&D center in China, and several R&D directors.

No one can resist the allure of future smartphones, nor can they refuse Wang Junshan's invitation.

In an instant, Zhou Ping made a decision:

"Chairman Wang trusts me, so I'll take a gamble and join Future Mobile!"

"Welcome!" Wang Junshan smiled.

"Future Mobile is one of the most important business units for Future Technology Group going forward, and I will personally serve as its CEO. You will serve as the President of Future Mobile and concurrently as the Director of Mobile Phone R&D."

"An annual salary of 300 million, and if the phone is successfully launched in the future, an additional 200 million year-end bonus will be given. Let's calculate it as an annual salary of 500 million for now!"

"500 million!"

Zhou Ping was somewhat incredulous: "My entire Motorola portfolio only totaled 200 million!"

(End of this chapter)