91: Chapter 91 Lei Jun's Actions

Big Mouth Yu nodded. Even in ancient times, there was a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. It was even more true for companies; he was very clear about the difference between a "biological son" and a "half-biological son"!

Besides, since Shen Fei said Professor Li could teach, wasn't that just changing the label...

"Boss, then I'll have to trouble Professor Li to come and teach more often. Professor He still can't compare to Professor Li in terms of technology, right?"

Seeing Shen Fei nod, Big Mouth Yu asked again: "Shen Fei, what about the Lithography Machine project? There hasn't been an official document issued yet. Are we really going to hand our chip over to TSMC?"

"No! We'll do it ourselves. Transsion still has an even more advanced line."

"Just wait and see; the results will definitely be surprising. As for the Lithography Machine, with Academician Wu leading the team, progress will be very fast. We might see the project plan before the end of the year, and the project will definitely be implemented before 2012."

Looking at these plans, Big Mouth Yu was full of admiration.

Shen Fei had never trusted the international supply chain from the very beginning. Was this too... but since it was Shen Fei's decision, he wouldn't question it.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing." Big Mouth Yu remembered something. "Lei Jun has been frequently contacting people in the mobile phone industry recently. Does he have any ideas about this industry? Should we..."

During this period, Lei Jun had indeed been making frequent moves. He not only invested in some mobile-related companies but also constantly contacted mid-to-high-level management talent and relevant R&D personnel from various mobile phone manufacturers.

Last month, their headhunting team met with the head of the marketing department at Huawei's terminal division. Because of this, Old Yu had become cautious. He had worked hard to build his team, only for someone to start playing tricks.

However, Shen Fei just chuckled.

"Don't worry about him." Shen Fei waved his hand. There was some seriousness in his eyes, but more of it was the readiness to watch a good show. Half of his luck had been taken away by Honor; he wondered if his top-tier marketing could change this situation.

"Lei Jun comes from a software background, so if he makes phones, he will definitely follow an internet model. Our company, with its heavy assets and heavy R&D, doesn't conflict with them, and their supply chain costs will definitely be higher than ours."

"Honor's 1999 has already sealed off his path."

Big Mouth Yu nodded thoughtfully. When he reported to Mr. Ren yesterday, Ren Zhengfei had the same view. It seemed... indeed...

He wondered what Lei Jun would think when he saw Honor's 1999. It would definitely be a sight to see.

After Big Mouth Yu left, Shen Fei once again began to plan his layout.

MIUI, based on the underlying Taishan OS, might be a good direction for cooperation; he could make some contact.

But just then, his phone suddenly vibrated. Zhang Mingzhu sent a message: "Our advisor said my thesis can be published. The title is 'Technological Democracy and Industrial Upgrading: A Case Study of Transsion Technology'. But I think... this title is too academic. I want to write it in a more accessible way so that more people can see what you are doing. [Cute]"

Shen Fei held his phone, his hands hovering over the keyboard. Finally, he gently typed out a line: "Hmm. You can be bolder. Tell the world that Chinese companies don't just imitate; they also innovate and, more importantly, lead."

After sending a few messages, he remembered the previous mockery regarding "Made in China": "Knock-offs, cheap, no core technology." It really didn't sound good!

But these labels would thoroughly become history. Apple's entry into China was indeed facing a bit of a Waterloo now.

Meanwhile, in Beijing, Zhongguancun Yingu Building.

Lei Jun sat at his desk. There was a pile of Smartphones on the table, but he was holding a Huawei Mate in his hand, his fingers sliding back and forth across its five-inch screen.

Compared to other models, this phone was very smooth. Whether it was multitasking, taking photos, or the beauty function on it, every feature was excellent.

"Big Mouth Yu said this is a self-developed system made by Transsion." He handed the phone to Lin Bin, who was sitting opposite him. "You try it."

Lin Bin, the CTO of Kingsoft Software, was Lei Jun's partner for many years. The two were very familiar with each other; they might not be able to guess exactly what the other was thinking, but they could guess eighty percent of it. Just like now, he knew Lei Jun wanted to make mobile phones, and as it happened, he had the same idea in his mind. If the two of them joined forces, they would definitely be able to achieve something...

After picking up the Mate and playing with it for a while, his confidence instantly diminished quite a bit. "I feel like what they said is true; this definitely cannot just be a simple optimization." He put down the phone.

"Memory management, process scheduling, this version even has graphics rendering... Hmm, it has changed compared to when it was released. The person who created this system is definitely a world-class expert."

"So Transsion is not just selling phones in Africa."

Lei Jun also felt a blow while sitting in his chair. From graduation to being the Vice President of Kingsoft, and then to being an Angel investor today, this was the first time he felt that there was someone in this world who was more like a chosen one than him.

Transsion's development had been too smooth since Shen Fei took over, not to mention those investments... He had invested in so many projects, and only ten percent were successful. But Huaxin Investment was like being hand-fed by heaven; it was almost 100% successful, and all of them were top-tier global companies. Could it be that the chosen one really wasn't him!

"Old Lei, I feel like they are still holding back a big move." "There definitely is one. And last month, it seems a special meeting was held in Beijing, and it is said to be related to Transsion."

At this moment, the office wall was covered with dense writing.

Smartphone Market Analysis: Apple: High-end, closed, good experience. It seems to be having some trouble adapting to the domestic market. Samsung, HTC: Mid-to-high-end, Android, has brand foundation, but strength is average. Huawei Mate: Mid-range, Taishan OS, but not strong in strength, definitely a dark horse. Other domestic brands: Knock-off phones, Feature phones, destined to be eliminated by the market.

"The market changes really fast!" Lei Jun pointed at the whiteboard and sighed. "Who's to say it doesn't? Half a year ago, when you first chatted with me, who could have imagined that a dark horse like the Mate would appear?" Lin Bin said with emotion. At this moment, he was also a bit hesitant—should he continue to be the CTO of Kingsoft, or should he take another gamble with Lei Jun? He was a bit hesitant.

"But this also shows that the Smartphone era has arrived. But a Smartphone is not just hardware; it is a combination of hardware + software + ecosystem. And even if you achieve all of this, the price still needs to be right."

Lin Bin nodded and finally said what he had been hesitating about for a long time: "Then... are we still going to make phones?"

"Yes!" Lei Jun was still very firm. "But not now, and not the way they do it. They are big companies that can afford to lose money, but we are a startup, so everything must be saved."

He stood up and wrote this term on the whiteboard: Internet Model. "The traditional mobile phone way is: R&D, production, sales, making money. But our Internet way is: users, experience, word-of-mouth, ecosystem, making money. And we also have to make the fans think we aren't making money."