108: Chapter 108, Pingguo 4, is starting to build hype!

Apple China Headquarters.

Lu Qun was on the phone, a faint smile on his face, but his eyes were scanning a report handed to him by his Secretary in Black Stockings.

Congratulations, President Piao. I saw your press conference. A phone with a 5-megapixel camera and Fast Charging Technology—truly impressive!

He signed the bottom of the report after reading it, tossed it in front of his secretary, stood up, and walked to the window.

Your idea is excellent. Squeeze the fanmi 1 phone's market, leave them unable to attend to both ends, and finally, pull the rug out from under them!

I'll have some action on my side soon, though perhaps not as aggressive as yours. After all, our phone development cycle can't compare to yours. I'll launch a wave of preheating news for our phone, which counts as a bit of support for you!

...

Alright, that's it. Talk to you next time!

After hanging up, Lu Qun frowned and couldn't help but sigh.

The development of Apple's next phone had already begun. As far as he knew, it also featured a 5-megapixel camera, but it wouldn't be available in the domestic market until the second half of next year; the development cycle was too long.

Moreover, the memory upgrade he had envisioned seemed to have stalled. The RAM of the apple 4 hadn't increased much, and 512M wasn't a significant advantage, so his plan to use memory upgrades as a gimmick had effectively fallen through.

However, he still had confidence in the apple 4. Although the configuration wasn't top-tier, the exterior design and system optimization were absolutely perfected. Plus, it was equipped with Apple's latest self-developed A4 chip architecture, which was definitely a major advantage.

President Lu, Fanmi has found a new camera supplier. The news was just released!

The secretary's voice sounded from behind him.

I know!

Lu Qun nodded slightly. President Piao had already told him about this on the phone just now.

He smiled. Fanmi hadn't released any news for so long, and now they were publicizing a partnership for a small camera; compared to before, it was clearly a sign that they were at the end of their rope.

It seemed they were out of options.

He had thought from the very beginning that without a self-developed chip, Fanmi couldn't create a phone without the self-developed system that was completely independent of android. Judging by the current situation, the second-generation phone was already stuck.

Unless Fanmi could produce their own self-developed chip, but that would certainly be a matter for two or three years later. Meanwhile, Apple's self-developed chip was already out and would inevitably regain the advantage.

He wasn't in a hurry because he was confident. When the apple 4 hit the market next year, it would surely sweep past all manufacturers, including Samsung. By then, they would occupy a large share of the high-end user market, everything would be settled, and it would be difficult for Fanmi to snatch the market back.

This was the first thought that came to his mind after seeing the design philosophy of the 4th generation Apple phone.

Moreover, he felt he didn't even need to wait until then. With technological innovation in the industry, the advantages of the fanmi 1 would soon disappear; Fast Charging Technology had already been followed up by most manufacturers.

And he was certain that once the apple 4 hit the market, it would definitely crush the fanmi 1. If the second-generation Fanmi phone hadn't been released by then, it likely never would be.

Without capital support, Fanmi Technology couldn't possibly hold on for that long.

Furthermore, the impact of the 'Fanmi Threat Theory' was still fermenting. It was like an invisible hand stirring the nerves of foreign giants, and it was already showing initial results—the fact that High Copper refused customized cooperation with Fanmi was the best proof.

Even if Fanmi made a breakthrough in the future and actually produced a self-developed chip, it would inevitably touch the nerves of those foreign giants once again.

The resulting technological blockade and suppression would definitely be much fiercer than it was now.

He was quite eager to see how a desperate Fanmi would cope then.

Lu Qun leaned back in his sofa chair with a faint smile on his face. He greatly enjoyed this feeling of having everything under control.

Send the notice down. Let's start the preheating for the apple 4!

Yes, President Lu!

...

Hangzhou City, Xihu District.

A small, dilapidated warehouse on Yuhang Road.

The sound of typing on a keyboard emanated from the warehouse almost without pause.

Qiu Zhengyang's eyes were fixed on the programming interface on the screen. He was clearly fully immersed, to the point where he barely even thought.

Old Qiu, take a break!

Suddenly, a head poked out from the desk opposite, twisting its neck and stretching.

I'll be done soon!

Qiu Zhengyang replied without lifting his head, the sound of typing on the keyboard continuing unabated.

Five minutes later, the keyboard sound suddenly stopped. He looked up at Yu Zhengqing opposite him and also stood up to stretch.

Old Qiu, tell me, is that Wu Chen really reliable? We've been staying in this broken warehouse for several months now, eating instant noodles every day. We're about to turn into noodle cakes!!

Yu Zhengqing said with a bitter expression, full of resentment.

Just bear with it. Once we finish this online reading app, we'll definitely be able to get investment!

Qiu Zhengyang also sighed.

He scanned the small warehouse, which was less than 50 square meters, feeling somewhat helpless.

When he first went to Fanmi Technology, he didn't get the investment he had expected, but Wu Chen was a bit ruthless—without a word, he went back and sold his car.

It was precisely because of this that he was moved to stay, brought his roommate over, and rented this small, dilapidated warehouse as a temporary office.

However, it wasn't all bad news. Lei Jun had already promised them that as long as the software they made met the standards, it could be listed on the Fanmi app store. Moreover, Lei Jun also promised that if their software was done well, there might even be a chance for it to be pre-installed on the fanmi 2 phone.

It was mainly because of this promise that he made up his mind to partner with Wu Chen.

I'm just a little worried. Is it really okay to develop the app end for the system first?

Yu Zhengqing's voice sounded again, his brows furrowed.

Why wouldn't it be?

Qiu Zhengyang asked.

There's still no news about the fanmi 2 phone. I heard their cooperation with High Copper didn't go through. There's no chip that adapts to the self-developed system. If we finish the app and Fanmi's second-generation phone doesn't come out, what then?

Yu Zhengqing's expression became increasingly serious.

Hearing this, Qiu Zhengyang fell silent. He had absolute confidence in Fanmi Technology's technology, or rather, in Zhou Fan, but the suppression of Fanmi by foreign giants was also a fact.

He was actually a bit unsure now, but deep down, he always held a glimmer of hope.

After all, he didn't want the first mobile operating system in the country that was independently developed and not controlled by foreign giants to die in the cradle like this.

Why think about so much? It's not like Wu Chen isn't paying us. Where isn't it work?

Besides, once the app is done and launched, we might really be able to get investment. Then we'll be the original shareholders!

And...

Qiu Zhengyang suddenly thought of Zhou Fan again, that monstrous genius who became the chief technology officer of Fanmi while still a freshman and was even invited by the Chinese Academy of Sciences to provide technical guidance.

With such a person around, Fanmi surely had hope. His eyes gained a trace of certainty.

Fanmi will definitely be able to hold on!

Just as Qiu Zhengyang finished speaking, a figure rushed in from outside.

Good news, there's progress on Fanmi's second-generation phone!

Wu Chen's voice followed.