Reinventing the Millennium.

Chapter 504 Technology Controversy (Two in One)

fantastic.

Sitting in the coffee shop on the second floor of the hotel, Fang Zhuo listened to Sun Zhizhou, deputy director of Texas Instruments, talking eloquently, and there was only one feeling in his heart.

The transition between the rich and the executives here in the United States is really smooth. As long as they survived this busy period, the related business resumes of Bloomberg in New York, Evans in business, and Rumsfeld in defense are all very dazzling.

If he abandons business and goes into politics, and hooks up with Comrade Guan Hai, wouldn't it be useful?
In my impression, the Ministry of Energy seems to have the first Chinese leader.

Following Sun Zhizhou's silence, Fang Zhuo stopped his imagination, and Deyi's door-to-door visit was actually not complicated, it just came up with a package solution.

One side pays a package of funds, and the other party provides a solution.

Texas Instruments has more than ten fabs around the world, and it is one of them to find buyers for two outdated production line equipment.

Texas Instruments can do patent licensing and industry semiconductor production line solutions, and wants to grab the business of competitors, this is the second.

As for the third, it was not about paying money, but the content really surprised Fang Zhuo.

"Mr. Sun, regardless of what you said earlier, what does the TV company in the Chinese market have to do with me?" Fang Zhuo asked in astonishment, "Neither Yike nor Bingxin involve the DLP technology you promote. The so-called exerting influence on TV companies..."

He spread his hands, feeling weird.

The first two can be understood, and suddenly jumped to the DLP rear-projection TV technology that Texas Instruments wants to promote, and said to let itself exert influence on domestic TV manufacturers in order to fight against the 3LCD alliances such as Epson, Sony, Sanyo, Panasonic, and Hitachi enterprise……

For a moment, Fang Zhuo thought that his Yi Ke was the leader of the Huaxia TV company.

Rear-projection TV is a TV based on the principle of projection and reflection. Among them, according to the type of projector used internally, it is mainly divided into LCD and DLP.

Texas Instruments is a strong promoter of DLP technology, and its products include rear-projection TVs and projectors.

In Sun Zhizhou's description, the 3LCD alliance headed by Epson and the DLP alliance headed by Texas Instruments are fighting desperately.

Companies under Texas Instruments include InFocus, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Barco, and more.

"Mr. Fang, haven't you already exerted influence?" Sun Zhizhou said seriously.

Fang Zhuo gave a question mark face.

"In the past two years, Texas Instruments has cooperated with Changhong and Konka in China to establish a joint laboratory, which is used to promote the development of DLP in China." cooperation, shut down the DLP laboratory, turned around and put into the embrace of LCD."

"This has led to Konka and other companies following suit one after another, directly expanding the LCD alliance."

He said with piercing eyes: "Mr. Fang, isn't Changhong's change not influenced by you? There's no need to shirk this kind of thing, right?"

Fang Zhuo: "..."

To talk about the technical route, Changhong is going to make LCDs and go to plasmas. Who knows what kind of DLP rear projection you Texas Instruments is doing.

He was silent for a few seconds, feeling very... very interesting about the chain changes that Changhong made.

"Did Deyi find me this time because of changes in the Chinese TV market?" Fang Zhuo asked a question.

Sun Zhizhou naturally had nothing to hide when he said this, and nodded: "Yes, Mr. Fang, we attach great importance to the development of DLP technology in the global market. This is related to industry standards. I was surprised by the sudden defection of the Chinese market. I understand President Fang’s push.”

——It took some time to know the murderer behind it.

Fang Zhuo frowned slightly, feeling that there was still some misunderstanding.

Changhong and Texas Instruments jointly established a DLP technology laboratory, which involved rear-projection TVs rather than ordinary TVs. This positioning is more high-end, and it is not the battle between LCD and plasma that I talked about.

Furthermore, the choice of TV companies is to follow the laws of the market, what influence can they exert?
Well, it is necessary to communicate with Lao Ni to see how he makes decisions.

Sun Zhizhou took a sip of coffee and narrated the final link: "We know that Mr. Fang has great influence on China's TV companies, and we also heard that Mr. Fang encountered some difficulties in making ice cores, so this is actually a matter of getting the best of both worlds."

"Boss Fang, what do you think?"

Fang Zhuo rubbed his fingers, without talking too much, and said slowly: "Mr. Sun, neither Yike nor Bingxin are involved in the TV business. The so-called great influence... I have some personal friendship with Changhong, I am afraid that you misunderstood gone."

Sun Zhizhou raised his voice slightly to strengthen his words: "Mr. Fang, can personal feelings make Changhong suddenly go to Luzhou to acquire companies? Can personal feelings make Konka close the laboratory too?"

Fang Zhuo didn't let his expression change.

Deyi had really prepared for this Chinese deputy director to come to him.

It's just that he was too prepared!

If you talk about Changhong, you can still recognize it, and this Konka is even more irrelevant!
However, the last condition put by Texas Instruments may be the strongest driving force for this trip. Compared with the second-hand equipment, patent authorization, and industry solutions of the production line, the competition for the technical route of rear-projection TV is broader. market.

Whoever dominates the product standards will get the biggest cake.

Is Texas Instruments asking for three or four billion U.S. dollars?
Of course, it is required.

But what it wants more is technological participation and dominance in a market of billions or even billions.

Moreover, speaking of the rear-projection TV market, it may not be impossible to combine upstream and downstream industry chains to drive down costs and seek more common market shares.

In the context of such a dispute, ice cores are just the scraps of semiconductor foundry for the first time, and the financial interests involved in this aspect are not the key.

Fang Zhuo probably understands that Deyi doesn't mind adding a lot of weight in order to fight for the technical route, um... this is probably a wave of competition that is difficult to win.

"Mr. Sun, I understand why you are here, and why Deyi is here."

"I am very happy to accept Deyi's help, and I am very grateful to Mr. Sun for coming here."

"but……"

Fang Zhuo waved for a cup of coffee.

Sun Zhizhou felt a little nervous unconsciously. Before this trip, he felt very stable. After he really got in touch with President Fang, he found that he was not as anxious as he imagined. He even suspected that Fang always had another way to get through the national defense.

Both coffees were replaced.

"However, Texas Instruments' conditions are a bit harsh." Fang Zhuo said the turning point was not involving the Huaxia TV company as Sun Zhizhou imagined. He said slowly, "Deyi let us digest the outdated production line equipment, which is too difficult for us."

"If Ice Core wants to build a fab, it must be close to the advanced level, otherwise why would it take so much trouble?"

"If the defense side really can't get the permission, we will move to Berlin immediately, but it will only be a few months at night."

Sun Zhizhou shook his head and said, "Mr. Fang, I believe that relocating the factory is not an easy decision."

"Yeah, of course we don't want to move, but the national defense is forcing us to move." Fang Zhuo said naturally, "If we move to Berlin, we can purchase the best equipment and introduce the best technology. As an example of the production line, the national defense must be able to relax the restrictions on us, and it is not impossible to go back to China after such a detour."

Sun Zhizhou stared at the eyes of the young CEO in front of him: "Boss Fang, you won't move easily."

He was shaken in his heart, but what he said still insisted on his original judgment.

Fang Zhuo nodded and said: "Mr. Sun, you are right. Of course it is not easy. Of course, we have to try various methods to obtain national defense approval. Of course, we should try our best to start production in China, where the investment promotion policy can best be used. But, like you It's like Deyi came to me this time."

"As far as I know, the development momentum of LCD is very strong?"

"TI will not give up DLP easily. Of course, it must exert its energy to strengthen its bargaining chips in the market, and it must unite with more companies to fight against the LCD alliance."

"Everyone is like this, they all have to do their best."

Fang Zhuo sighed: "It's just that there is a limit to doing our best. We Bingxin think that we are doing things within the scope of normal business, but what we are encountering now is political factors. If it can't be eliminated, we can't just sit back and watch. The ice core is melting, isn't it?"

Sun Zhizhou looked into the sincere eyes of the young CEO, and there was a voice in his heart—why?Why do you think he is so sincere?Why do you think his words are right?
"Mr. Sun, if Deyi is willing to help, I am naturally very grateful. As for wanting to sell high-priced second-hand equipment, this is not acceptable to me." Fang Zhuo first pulled a line and continued, "But I believe in the strength of Deyi and am willing to Let’s talk about cooperation on patent licensing and industry solutions.”

Sun Zhizhou frowned.

Fang Zhuo continued: "As for China's TV companies, I can try to help, but I'm really not sure how much I can help."

Sun Zhizhou has a confident judgment in this regard, and said word by word: "Mr. Fang, I believe in the power of the richest man in the mainland. I believe you will be able to help a lot."

Fang Zhuo pretended to think for a while, and tapped the table with his fingers: "Well, since Deyi is sure to unblock the national defense, let me show my sincerity, and we are going to submit the application tomorrow."

He paused: "Also, this cooperation can be discussed with another person."

The position of the deputy marketing director is a bit uneven, which is not so reassuring.

Sun Zhizhou was not angry because of this sentence, and quickly agreed: "Mr. Fang, this is a win-win situation. I believe we have a very good room for cooperation with each other. You will see Deyi's goodwill this time tomorrow. "

He got up and shook hands.

Fang Zhuo shook hands, smiled at the employees waiting on the other side of Texas Instruments, and said goodbye to them.

The calm chairman of Bingxin returned to the room as usual, and the first phone call was made to Ni Runfeng in China, asking about the whole process of the laboratory cooperation between Changhong and Texas Instruments.

"Oh, Mr. Fang, we have a DLP laboratory with Texas Instruments, and they even sent technicians here."

"However, considering Changhong's current warehouse inventory and the necessity and thoroughness of strategic transformation, this laboratory has been shut down, and Changhong must fully embrace LCD technology."

"As for Kang Jia, I really didn't pay attention."

Ni Runfeng replied like this.

The development momentum of LCD TVs is very good. Konka may be affected by the transformation of Changhong, which has led to a chain reaction.

After all, the cost of DLP rear projection TV is relatively high.

"What is the general attitude of domestic enterprises towards DLP?" Fang Zhuo asked.

Ni Runfeng said honestly: "Deyi is willing to set up a laboratory and provide funds for technology. We are naturally willing to cooperate. As for whether it is DLP or LCD 3LCD, everyone is not firm. The domestic share of rear-projection TVs is not large."

"Attitude, let's be sloppy, both sides cooperate to see, DLP and 3LCD, more upstream patents are occupied."

"Like Texas Instruments' DLP technology, the key components involved are digital micromirror chips, which are arranged on the chip. These patented technologies are controlled by Texas Instruments, and it will take a lot of effort for domestic companies to break through."

"Based on my recent observations, everyone is indeed more willing to participate in the development of 3LCD."

"Although it is a rear-projection TV, 3LCD is as easy to develop as LCD, and it is more friendly in terms of cost and technology."

Fang Zhuo felt that this sloppy attitude was very real.

He thought for a while, and asked, "Are there many rear-projection TV companies in China?"

"Not a lot. After all, the profits of high-end products are relatively high. Although they are not widely used now, they are not guaranteed to enter thousands of households in the future." , They are all engaged in technical cooperation, and everyone thinks that more technology is better than less.”

Fang Zhuo pondered.

A few seconds later, Ni Runfeng said again: "Oh yes, this rear projection TV technology, there will be a Huaxia International Audio-Visual Integrated Equipment and Technology Exhibition at the end of the year in China, which will be held in Shanghai, followed by Texas Instruments and Epson's technology exhibition."

"Okay, okay, Lao Ni, I have to thank Changhong for this matter." Fang Zhuo briefly explained the situation and asked, "Since it is a rear-projection TV, can you invite a few colleagues to work on the DLP laboratory and the like?" of?"

Ni Runfeng was a little embarrassed, and said: "A few years ago, domestic TVs have been fighting price wars. I wish I could bring Changhong to kill all other TV companies. This relationship is not easy."

Fang Zhuo thought about it, since Deyi came to him, he must be sure, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

What the other party valued was the so-called influence, so it would be hard to explain if it didn't give some effect. At least it could give the DLP a short-term bloodbath.

"Old Ni, why don't you get in touch." Fang Zhuo said slowly, "There are only a few big TV companies in China. You can take the lead. I know them."

"Well, you can tell me something for me, this time to cheer you up, everyone will be friends in the future."

"I'll look for the leader again, and make some appearance."

Ni Runfeng was very happy: "Mr. Fang, Changhong's appointment is fine. I can help pass the word on. Let's see what they say first. Let's communicate in time."

Fang Zhuo felt relieved and ended the call.

He made the second call to the Ice Core procurement team and asked them to evaluate the possible patent licensing and semiconductor production line solutions that Texas Instruments may offer. This part was also included in the procurement list before, and now it can be considered for Texas Instruments, even if the price is high. Some are acceptable.

As for the second-hand equipment of the Texas Instruments fab, it is also within the scope of the discussion and can be discussed at that time.

This opportunity should not be missed. Deyi can talk about money or face-to-face. It needs corporate hugs and rear-projection TVs. It wants to make it look as good as possible. At least, the appearance must be beautiful.

(End of this chapter)