471: Chapter 471 Taking Down Dave Burke

After stoking the flames of power and salary, Dave Burke was clearly tempted.

Of course, what tempted him most wasn't the money; after all, having worked at Google for so many years, he had long since achieved financial freedom.

What tempted him most was that R&D team.

Lin Nan continued to invite him enthusiastically: "I know you are one of the core founders of Android, and your technical vision and industry experience are exactly what Transsion needs."

"We are currently at a critical juncture of global expansion. You wouldn't be coming over to do peripheral work, but to build the standard for the next generation of mobile systems with us."

More flattery!

Dave Burke was clearly even more tempted; his hand touching the business card even began to tremble slightly.

At the same time, a thought crossed his mind: They speak so nicely!

Much better than that guy Sundar Pichai.

And the team autonomy, the budget application process... these were permissions he hadn't managed to get even after grinding at Google for so many years.

Although he was a vice president, he was still the one doing the actual work, stuck in the execution layer without ever entering the decision-making level.

Even the display team he had built up eventually became a scapegoat.

He considered it for a moment and eventually followed Lin Nan into a roadside cafe.

Seeing him walk in, Lin Nan didn't offer any more flattery; she pushed an offer directly in front of him.

It detailed the salary, benefits, and R&D permissions.

Every item was written clearly, with no empty promises.

Dave Burke was stunned. The proposal was too perfect—so perfect that it didn't seem like it had been drafted recently, but rather like a very formulaic template contract.

That's right; this wasn't just to recruit Dave Burke, but to poach that whole group of foreign reviewers as well!

"Mr. Burke, I know you have feelings for Google."

Lin Nan looked into his eyes, once again helping him dispel some of his hesitation.

"But the reality is here: you, a meritorious veteran, have been pushed out as a sacrificial pawn."

"I believe that before you left, Pichai must have made you some promises, but do you believe them?"

"The current Android alliance is a quagmire for all parties, and the Google framework—the most important asset of the Android system—has not been integrated into it!"

"The so-called alliance is nothing but a joke!"

"And even if you really went back, you'd just be a figurehead on display, unable to do anything."

"How do you know that?"

Dave Burke looked at her with a panicked expression.

After all, the content of that conversation was only known to him and Sundar Pichai. Could it be that there was a mole in the company? Perhaps that mole was...

Soon, Dave Burke nodded to himself; perhaps Android's failure was a foregone conclusion anyway!

"Mr. Burke, you don't need to know how we got the information."

"You only need to know this!"

She leaned forward again.

"You have also looked into the underlying architecture of Taishan System; it is brand new and doesn't have the historical baggage of Android."

"If you come over, you can truly create a product that changes the industry, rather than arguing internally every day and cleaning up other people's messes."

"As for the source of our information, don't forget, we are also Google's largest shareholder!"

"We are aware of certain decisions!"

Dave Burke remained silent. It was true; the entire tech world of the United States had already been permeated by Transsion like a sieve, let alone Google.

Although he hadn't made a decision yet, the scales in his heart were tipping little by little!

He remembered the passion of his youth, when he also wanted to create the best mobile system in the world and let global users use smooth devices!

Later, with the arrival of the corporate machine, it was all KPI and commercial games; his ambition to rewrite the underlying Android framework had long been worn away by Google's bureaucracy.

And he had studied Taishan System; the entire system was very ingenious, and the underlying logic was very concise.

If he could participate in the iteration of such a system, it seemed... better than wasting time in that quagmire at Google.

He took a deep breath, then looked up at Lin Nan:

"I can join Transsion, and I have a token of allegiance."

After saying this, he took out an encrypted document from his tablet:

"The display module for Android 4.4.3 copied the open-source display engine code of a small company in the Netherlands to rush the schedule, without obtaining the corresponding authorization."

"In addition, some core window adaptation logic directly plagiarized Transsion's early patents. Although they tried to circumvent it to some extent, it still fell within the scope of patent protection."

"This contains internal code submission records and team email exchanges; they are smoking guns."

"These can serve as your evidence. Once made public, Google will not only face huge claims, but the legitimacy of the Android alliance will also be impacted."

He thought Lin Nan would be surprised or even delighted, but Lin Nan just glanced at the document and smiled faintly.

That smile instantly made Dave Burke feel a bit relieved—relieved that he had been cut loose! And that he wouldn't have to stay in that quagmire any longer!

"Mr. Burke, Transsion's legal and patent teams have already been aware of these situations since the Android team started plagiarizing."

"Our chain of evidence is even more complete than what you have in your hands."

Dave Burke instantly understood the implication.

"We haven't detonated this powder keg only because the time hasn't come yet?"

Lin Nan also gradually put away her smile, her tone carrying a hint of ruthlessness.

"We poached you not for that evidence."

"What we value is your understanding of the Android ecosystem and your foundational capabilities."

"With your understanding, the development progress on Mr. Liu's side will be faster; that is your true value."

Dave Burke carefully observed the woman opposite him, and in his heart, he became more and more certain that Google could not have won from the very beginning, and would not win.

Because this Chinese company was one step ahead of Google at every turn, and Google had been living within their calculations.

After all, the two moves of being a shareholder plus corporate espionage had already left Google with no secrets before them.

And Transsion remained as mysterious as ever!

He picked up the pen, opened the last page of the offer, and without any hesitation, signed his name directly.

Every letter seemed to be putting a period on the old era.

At the same time, Dave Burke also knew that from this moment on, he was no longer a Google executive, but the closer who would start nailing the coffin of Android.

...

Meanwhile, on the other side!

In the Shenzhen municipal government office, the negotiation teams from Apple Inc. and Transsion formally began their first round of negotiations.

As for why they chose this place? Of course, it was because Zhang Shiqing had not yet been transferred.

It was originally planned to transfer Zhang Shiqing to the neighboring area to serve as deputy secretary in the first half of this year, but because of that engine, the matter had been delayed once again!

Of course, Apple Inc. didn't choose this place because they knew about those things; they were hoping to choose the negotiation location on Zhang Shiqing's turf so that if Shen Fei made any excessive demands, they could ask Zhang Shiqing to mediate.

After all, he might not listen to others, but he should give his father-in-law some face.