giants of the era

Chapter 63 Loans
As a self-motivated boss, Li Zetian's life is very ordinary but fulfilling.

In fact, Li Zetian's work tasks are very heavy, and the three companies under his name are all involved in multiple development projects.

Projects that Apple participated in: Mac Labs project (including graphical interface operating system, mouse and related driver development), Apple-ll personal computer, Mos6502 microprocessor, investment in "Star Wars", special effects technology development of Industrial Light and Magic.

Microsoft Corporation: BASIC compiler, Excel spreadsheet office software.

Sunbird: "China Tetris", "Pac-Man", "Super Arkanoid", "Donkey Kong".

The Mac graphical interface operating system is based on the Unix operating system developed by AT&T Bell Laboratories, and is written in C language. It has not been several years, so naturally it cannot be produced!At present, the Unix operating system is open to the public for free, but when AT&T realizes the value of the Unix operating system, it will definitely adopt a licensing fee model.

When Li Zetian came to the Mac lab, Jobs reminded him that Apple would buy the permanent license of the Unix operating system at a low price while AT&T did not pay much attention to the Unix operating system, so that it could be done once and for all.

"Mr. li, AT&T published an article on the Unix operating system on the International Computer Society ACM in July 1974. This was the first contact between UNIX and the outside world. The results aroused widespread interest in the academic community and asked for its source code , Therefore, Unix is ​​provided to universities for teaching purposes under the agreement of "for educational purposes only", and has become a model textbook in the current operating system courses. University companies have begun to conduct various Unix through Unix source codes. Therefore, Unix became widely popular. But sooner or later those idiots of AT&T will discover the value of the Unix operating system, so we'd better get the perpetual license of the Unix source code!!!" When Jobs spoke, he said to AT&T is full of disdain. The Unix operating system is so good that it has released the source code. It's so stupid!
When Li Zetian thought about it, what Jobs said made sense! ! !
"Well, I see, I will talk to AT&T!" Li Zetian nodded.

Later, Li Zetian went to Tian Shuai's office and asked him to send an invitation letter to AT&T in the name of the company's CEO.

At the moment, Tian Shuai is receiving an Australian businessman.With the help of JWT, Apple has contacted many overseas agencies of Apple-l personal computers, and the products have entered Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Belgium, RB Korea, and Hong Kong. , Taiwan, Singapore and other regions.

Li Zetian waited outside for a while, and after the two of them had finished talking, he went to discuss with Tian Shuai about the Unix operating system.

Ten minutes later, the Australian businessman emerged from his office.

Li Zetian came to Tian Shuai's office.

"A deal with the Australian retailer?"

"Well, it's settled!" Tian Shuai nodded with a smile, "Now we have established overseas agent channels in more than ten countries around the world. Once the Apple-ll personal computer is released, it will be sold all over the world soon. Yes Now, I am more worried that Apple-ll's production capacity will not be able to keep up with our sales!!!" Tian Shuai is full of confidence in Apple-ll, otherwise he would not have said this.

Li Zetian thought about it, and it is true. The scale of the Apple factory is average, and it can only produce 1500 Apple-lls at full capacity in a month.In addition, the production of the first-generation computer Apple-200 has not stopped, and it still produces [-] machines per month.

"Tian Shuai, what suggestion do you have?" Li Zetian asked, although he already had an idea, but he wanted to hear Tian Shuai's suggestion first!
If you listen, you will be dark, and you will be clear if you listen.

As the boss, you still need to listen to the opinions of your subordinates more, and at the same time make the other party feel that you attach great importance to him, so that you can work harder.

"I think the factory should be expanded immediately! It's just that the current Apple-l personal computer has been impacted by market competitors, and sales have dropped sharply, resulting in Apple's insufficient funds. Right now, the fastest way to obtain funds is to choose external financing , So far, more than a dozen venture capital companies have investment intentions; the second is to get a loan from the bank."

Li Zetian nodded and said: "You are right. Apple really needs to expand the factory immediately. Otherwise, Apple-ll's reserves will be insufficient, and the release date will have to be postponed. Compared with external financing, I prefer to borrow from the bank! "Li Zetian would not let Apple raise funds at this time. After the release of Apple-ll, Apple will definitely make a lot of money, and then go public directly!
Of course, it was very difficult for the Chinese in this period to get loans from American banks.At this time, Li Zetian thought that Bill Gates' grandfather was a big banker, so he could ask Bill Gates to help him.

"Tian Shuai, I will find a way to deal with the bank loan. If it doesn't work, let's refinance! By the way, I'm looking for you this time for the Mac lab. Jobs suggested that I put AT&T's Unix operating system permanently The license is in hand! Once AT&T realizes the value of the Unix operating system, it will ask us for a fee. If we pay AT&T $50 for every Mac computer sold, then 100 million units is 5000 million dollars!! !"

Tian Shuai was startled, obviously frightened by this number.

Li Zetian continued: "So, we have to take advantage of AT&T's unawareness of the value of the Unix operating system and buy its perpetual license at a low price! Tian Shuai, you should immediately contact AT&T in the name of Apple's CEO and ask them to negotiate. Come on, I'll go with you when the time comes!"

"Okay, I'll make a call now!"

With that said, Tian Shuai picked up the phone and dialed AT&T.A few minutes later, Tian Shuai said to Li Zetian, "In three days, they will invite us to AT&T headquarters!"

"Okay! Tomorrow afternoon, we will set off!"

"Ok!"

AT&T is headquartered in Texas, the largest state in the southern United States.

That evening, Li Zetian invited Bill Gates out for dinner, and then made his request.

"Bill, Apple plans to borrow money from the bank to expand the Apple-ll production plant! Look, can you introduce me to your grandfather?"

Bill Gates smiled and said, "No problem, I'll call him later!"

Microsoft is a partner of Apple, and the better Apple is, the better it is for Microsoft.At least for now.And based on Bill Gates' understanding of Apple-ll, once it is released, it will definitely sell well!Therefore, it is not a big problem for Grandpa to agree to loan to Apple!
"By the way, Chronos, how much is Apple going to borrow?"

"$1000 million!!!"

"It takes so much money to expand the company?" Bill Gates was stunned.

"Hehe, since I have borrowed from the bank, I might as well borrow more. In addition to using it to expand the factory, I also plan to build Apple retail stores across the United States!"

"But 1000 million dollars is not enough?!"

"It's not enough! However, what I want to build is a flagship store. I plan to build one in each of the five cities of New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and San Jose! When I have money, I will cover major cities in the United States!"

"Flagship store?" Bill Gates asked suspiciously. Obviously, this was the first time he heard the term.

Li Zetian explained: "The flagship store is actually the name of the brand center store. In short, it refers to the establishment of a store with the largest scale, the most luxurious decoration, and the best service in a prosperous area. Usually, it only deals in a series of products or Products of a certain brand! The purpose of establishing a flagship store is to better display the corporate brand image to the outside world, let more people know about Apple and its products. It can be said that a flagship store is a powerful means of brand competition , is of great significance to the enterprise itself.”

After a pause, Li Zetian laughed, "In fact, to put it bluntly, flagship store marketing is a marketing method of psychological respect. Everyone desires to be respected and noticed. Flagship store marketing shows off dignity on the one hand, and on the other hand, through brand worship, Satisfy the psychological desires of consumers.”

High, it is high!

Bill Gates couldn't help giving Li Zetian a thumbs up in his heart, secretly thinking that Microsoft will learn from Apple in the future and build its own flagship store! ! !

At the end of the dinner, Bill Gates said before leaving: "Chronos, I will have a good talk with my grandfather, and I will contact you in the evening!"

"Okay, bye!!!"

……

In the evening, Li Zetian was lying on the sofa and reading the newspaper. However, his eyes would look at the phone not far away from time to time.

At around 9 o'clock, the phone rang, and Li Zetian immediately put down the newspaper and went to answer the phone.

"Bill, what's going on?"

"My grandfather wants to talk to you! The time is set for noon tomorrow at the corporate headquarters of First Intercontinental Bank."

PS: I was recommended by Sanjiang today. If I get good grades during the recommendation period, the website will continue to recommend it next time!Please vote, please reward, please collect, tomorrow is Monday, work hard, there are at least three chapters!

　PS: I was recommended by Sanjiang today. If I get good grades during the recommendation period, the website will continue to recommend it next time!Please vote, please reward, please collect, tomorrow is Monday, work hard, there are at least three chapters!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)