Chapter 506: Friends Are Here to Support Us (Two in One)

After being stuck at the Ministry of National Defense for a week, the approval of Bingxin's equipment procurement and technology introduction ushered in an opportunity for change.

Not only Fang Zhuo did not expect it, but Smith from Goldman Sachs also did not expect that TI would appear at this juncture.

That night, on the one hand, the Bingxin procurement team conducted an intensive evaluation of TI's conditions, and on the other hand, Smith immediately looked for resources that could negotiate with TI.

Previously, he did not know that TI could solve this dilemma, so now he naturally tried his best to find bargaining chips to impress the other party.

At the same time, Fang Zhuo was also considering the matter that TI attached great importance to - the rear-projection TV technology team of Huaxia TV Enterprise.

TI's visit was very hasty, but whether it was the Chinese deputy director's inquiry into the closure of Huaxia DLP Laboratory or the goodwill he wanted to show by agreeing to it, it made Fang Zhuo have a high expectation in his heart.

TI is serious, and TI has its own way.

On the morning of July 13, Smith and Fang Zhuo went to the Ministry of National Defense's office together to submit the application.

This time, they still faced Henry, the director of the office.

Less than ten minutes later, Henry, with a stern face, said that he had accepted the application from Bingxin.

Neither Fang Zhuo nor Smith asked the reason for the different processing procedures, but only asked when the results would be available.

Henry said with a serious face: "Now we are just accepting your application, and the final review still needs departmental research."

"When will the hearing be held?" Smith asked again.

"I don't know if there will be a hearing yet." Henry replied, and then said, "Wait for notification."

Fang Zhuo and Smith left the National Defense Office.

In any case, Bingxin's application was submitted.

Smith was a little excited, thinking that the progress of this work had finally made progress, and that the bonus for Bingxin was about to be pocketed.

He thought about the contact with TI, and suddenly turned his head and saw that Mr. Fang was silent.

"Mr. Fang, what are you thinking about?"

"Oh, nothing, just happy." Fang Zhuo smiled slightly, "If it can be submitted, at least there is something to talk about, unlike before."

Smith nodded: "Yes."

Fang Zhuo sat in the co-pilot, and put aside the idea that suddenly popped up in his mind just now. Henry was so stubborn and so tough to reject Bingxin's application. Could it be that TI's people were playing tricks?

Of course, this is just a simple little hypothesis and will not have any adverse effects.

From the perspective of TI's visit, their conditions are also a combination of multiple departments. The second-hand equipment of the wafer factory production line and the DLP technology route are obviously two fields.

If we judge from the current situation, it is basically TI that first explored the changes in the Chinese market, and then found the important factors of Changhong's shift, and finally knew what this factor was busy with.

As for whether there is a small game in it, it doesn't matter.

Just like calculating Changhong himself, when holding the lifeline of Changhong's overseas products, for Ni Runfeng, calculating or not is no longer important, what is important is the next handling.

In the afternoon, Fang Zhuo urgently contacted Bingxin in China to confirm the changes in equipment and technology, which ones can be replaced and which ones cannot be given up.

At present, the Belgian Microelectronics Research Center contacted by Bingxin wants to introduce 130nm process technology.

Speaking of which, the first time Fang Zhuo learned about the process numbers was last year when TSMC won the 130nm copper process war and defeated Intel, but in the blink of an eye this year, TSMC is already working on 90nm 12-inch wafer products.

According to reliable information, in the fourth quarter of this year, TSMC's monthly output of 90nm will be able to increase to thousands of reliable pieces.

Then, next year will inevitably increase production capacity significantly to occupy the market.

Moreover, according to Qiu Ciyun's estimation, TSMC has broken through the shackles and the next step of advanced process development will go smoothly. It is very likely that 90nm process products will be increased next year, and 65nm products can be trial-produced.

This is quite scary!

If Bingxin debugs smoothly, without considering the product yield, it is expected to ship 130nm process wafers by the end of the year. However, this product, which was first-class technology last year, may lag behind by more than two generations after it leaves the production line.

By next year, 2005, Bingxin will have a stable production capacity of 130nm wafers, and TSMC may have to increase its 65nm production capacity.

The competition must also consider the product yield, so it can be said that there is a huge space for catching up and competition.

But it is better to catch up than not to get started.

If the national defense always gets stuck in the approval, Bingxin will not be able to catch up.

Moreover, the further the technology is advanced, the longer it takes to break through, which is an opportunity for latecomers to gradually close the gap.

In the evening, the Bingxin team urgently determined the procurement plan that could be negotiated with Texas Instruments, involving an amount of about 150 million US dollars, which excluded two equipment manufacturers that were originally scheduled and almost negotiated.

In addition, there are also some patent licensing and production line solutions, with an amount of about 10 million US dollars.

This is the acceptable range for Bingxin. As for what can be negotiated with Texas Instruments, it depends on the specific contact.

Qiu Ciyun has already led his team from China to Washington to preside over the cooperation negotiation.

Later, Fang Zhuo spoke with Sun Zhizhou, deputy director of Texas Instruments.

As Texas Instruments made efforts and ice core approval was introduced, the attitude of both parties during the call was more direct than yesterday.

As expected by Fang Zhuo, Sun Zhizhou still emphasized Texas Instruments' DLP technology.

Compared with yesterday, the deputy director disclosed the situation in more detail. The technical dispute between Texas Instruments and Epson is going crazy. The technical confrontation between the DLP Alliance and the 3LCD Alliance has spread far and wide.

As the maker of the technical roadmap, Deyi was equivalent to the leader of the alliance, but the number of his subordinates was smaller than that of his opponents, and he was suddenly abandoned by Chinese manufacturers, which made him very annoyed.

The DLP technology obviously has better imaging effects than 3LCD, but its momentum is just not as good as its counterpart.

Especially in emerging markets, 3LCD has wider coverage.

Deyi was very unconvinced by this and wanted to have a fight with the opponent. The technology exhibition in Shanghai, China at the end of the year was a brand display site in Asia.

"Mr. Sun, it's okay to help. It's all easy to say."

Fang Zhuo received Deyi's kindness this morning. Even if the other party on the other end of the phone couldn't see him, he still had a smile on his face: "We have to sit down and talk about equipment and technology slowly. We can't rush this. But, you said This DLP, I said hello to Mr. Ni from Changhong yesterday, and the laboratory will be restarted soon. "

"I can speak to Chinese manufacturers, as well as Haier, Hisense, TCL, Konka, and Skyworth, but their corporate decisions still depend on whether the technology is good or not. It cannot be decided just because of a few words from an outsider like me."

"Mr. Sun, if you, Deyi, insist that I force the TV company to develop DLP technology, that is simply forcing someone to do something difficult, and I really can't do it."

What Fang Zhuo mentioned in his words was technical standards, as if the product market would be successful as long as the technology was good.

However, Sun Zhizhou said confidently: "Don't worry, Mr. Fang, our DLP technology is definitely stronger than 3LCD. We believe that companies will realize the good development prospects brought about by their decisions."

Fang Zhuo said nothing more.

Business competition is always mixed with many factors. DLP's rear-projection TV is positioned as a high-end product. No matter what kind of market there is in the United States and Europe, it is destined to be ignored if it is brought to China's emerging markets.

Will TI make such an assessment?

It should, but it definitely has the confidence of a big manufacturer and believes that it can educate the market with its technological advantages.

Such a decision-making path is not uncommon and is similar to the thinking of teaching players to play games.

…

Chairman Bingxin actively contacted favorable factors in Washington, trying to get the company to pass the final department's approval.

Qiu Ciyun, vice president of Bingxin, ordered his troops and quickly flew abroad to evaluate the equipment and patents on site.

Almost at the same time, news came back that Fang Zhuo needed help from domestic friends.

Bingxin needs help, but the way of help is the decision-making tendency of TV companies. This is somewhat confusing, but the request from Fang Zhuo is like this, then... do it.

There are many domestic TV brands. If divided according to market share in the past two years, TCL, Skyworth, and Konka are in the first tier, Changhong is the first tier leader and has fallen to tier 1.5, and Hisense and Haier are in the second tier.

At the same time, foreign brands that were knocked out of the domestic market by price wars in the past few years have made a comeback and began to vigorously capture the market with LCD TVs.

Changhong, which has been the leader in the industry for a long time, has shown signs of decline and its share has declined, but its series of actions this year to reorganize overseas channels, stabilize corporate management rights, move out of Sichuan and Anhui to acquire Meiling, and fully shift to LCD technology are still particularly attractive. People pay attention.

Overnight, Changhong, which was in decline, seemed to be bursting with vitality.

Among them, rumors about a certain mainland's richest man are also spreading in the television industry.

Some people believe it, some people don't.

This time, Fang Zhuo, who was overseas, needed friends to support him, and those who believed in him made a decision quickly.

There are two companies involved in the TV business located in Qindao, Haier and Hisense. The former was also mentioned in last year's turmoil, but its response was very low-key. Unlike another company that jumped out of business, Haier soon disappeared. mentioned again.

However, it could not help but pay attention to the subsequent development of the situation and witnessed a series of measures taken by Mr. Fang. When Changhong began to change, almost as soon as the rumors reached Haier Zhang Ruimin's ears, he immediately believed it.

Haier's main business is white goods. In 1997, it started to enter the TV business. In the past two years, it has gradually gained a good momentum.

Regarding the technology of this rear-projection TV, Zhang Ruimin actually hadn't made a decision yet. This time he received a personal call from Mr. Fang. Considering that it was just a formality, he agreed immediately and made a friend.

As for the Hisense company in the same city, this company's position is easier.

Hisense is a state-owned enterprise. When the state-owned assets department said hello and there was a personal call from the richest man, Mr. Fang, Hisense agreed to set up a DLP laboratory with Texas Instruments and will also attend the International Audio-Visual Integrated Equipment and Technology Conference in Shanghai at the end of the year. Technology Exhibition.

The two second-tier TV brands in Qindao went very smoothly, were very considerate and willing to help.

Of course, as a small condition, Changhong will give up the competition for Hisense's acquisition of Kelon's shares. The latter's shares are still held by Gu Zoujun, who jumped in. Recently, there has been mention of corporate share disposal.

At this point, if nothing unexpected happens, Changhong will get the shares of Meiling, and Hisense will also get the shares of Kelon.

This was nothing to Changhong, who wholeheartedly embraced LCD technology, and Ni Runfeng accepted it calmly.

Hisense, Haier, and Changhong are the three companies that can easily help Mr. Fang. Some of the other three first-tier brands have a little difficulty, and some are not willing to help.

The head of Skyworth, Huang Hongsheng, the head of Konka, Chen Weirong, and the head of TCL, Li Dongsheng, are known as the three musketeers of home appliances in South China. They all have their own personalities.

Among them, Mr. Huang of Skyworth is quite adventurous, Mr. Chen of Konka has a stubborn personality, and Mr. Li of TCL is more smooth.

All three received a call from Ni Runfeng and simply knew what was going on.

Soon, the three received a personal call from Fang Zhuo and heard the words of the mainland's richest man about making friends in a rather humble manner.

Chen Weirong of Konka has a stubborn personality and is extremely sensitive to industry trends. He has seen Changhong's actions and has become more vigilant. First, he ended the cooperation with Texas Instruments' DLP laboratory, and secondly, he is also considering the development momentum of plasma technology.

Therefore, he is not very willing to restart the DLP technology laboratory.

Fang Zhuo didn't say anything on the phone, but still thanked him.

But the next day, Chen Weirong suddenly received an invitation from the leaders of Anhui Province, hoping that this stubborn swordsman would give him some face.

This made Chen Weirong hesitate.

Konka has built a home appliance base in Anhui Province, and it is ambitious to build it into the largest high-definition color TV production base in the Yangtze River Delta. It is inevitable to deal with leaders more. In addition, it is also considering continuing to discuss a white appliance industrial park in Chuzhou, Anhui Province.

Well...

The stubborn Chen Weirong met the leader, and the two sides had a pleasant exchange. That night, he took the initiative to call Fang Zhuo, talked about the Shanghai Technology Exhibition at the end of the year, and said that he would talk to Texas Instruments again.

Fang Zhuo was naturally very grateful for this and marked a new friend.

Compared with Chen Weirong, the smooth-tempered Li Dongsheng did not need a second call, nor did he show his aversion to outsiders interfering in the decision-making of his own company. Anyway, it was just a laboratory, and it was easy to deal with things like gestures and samples.

In his opinion, it is worth making a friend like Mr. Fang.

Fang Zhuo was naturally very grateful for this and marked a new friend.

The last of the three musketeers, Huang Hongsheng of Skyworth, also received a call from Fang Zhuo.

However, he directly rejected the other party's request on the phone.

Huang Hongsheng was in Hong Kong, and his company was also listed here. He first answered Ni Runfeng's call and then Fang Zhuo's call.

He heard some rumors about the richest man in the mainland, and he never took the exaggerated part of them seriously, such as making the Li family look at his face in Shanghai and encouraging Changhong's strategic shift.

People nowadays dare to say a lot if they have a little effect.

As a successful and adventurous entrepreneur, Huang Hongsheng felt that Fang Zhuo just encountered the trend of the times and was not necessarily better than himself.

Just this year, he also entered the real estate industry and jointly invested 2 billion yuan with the owner of Hongzhou Real Estate to build the largest real estate project in Hainan Province, "Times Coast".

Huang Hongsheng felt that in a few years, who would top the Forbes Rich List?

"Mr. Fang, I'm sorry. It's not that I don't want to help. It's just that corporate decisions must be made scientifically, and I can't make the final decision alone."

Huang Hongsheng refused firmly, and even Fang Zhuo called him three times without shaking his attitude.

Fang Zhuo was naturally very grateful for this... No, Fang Zhuo was not angry about it. It didn't matter if he didn't want to help, and it was no big deal if he didn't mark a new friend.

He is not a petty person, and he is not the kind of person who wants to leave after offending the abbot.

It doesn't matter. It's enough to gather the help of most domestic TV companies.

Tomorrow, I will add an extra chapter for last month's 4,000 votes...I haven't found the time.

This month, it has reached 3,000, and there will be extra chapters at the beginning of next month.