Chapter 511: Phoenix Smart Device

March 18, 2009, Shenzhen.

The multifunction hall of Wuzhou Hotel was packed with people.

Over three hundred media outlets and more than five hundred reporters, long guns and short cannons crowded the podium so tightly that it was impassable. People were still standing in the back rows, and the aisles were also jam‑packed, forcing security to add a row of plastic stools at the last minute.

A red banner hung above the podium read:

"Phoenix Smart Device Launch Conference"

In the audience, people were whispering to each other.

"Smart device? Didn't Phoenix say they wouldn't make smart devices?"

"Li Yaozong said it himself last year; smart devices aren't their thing."

"Then what is this?"

"Who knows? Let's see."

At 9:58 a. m., the lights dimmed.

The big screen lit up, and a line of text slowly floated into view:

"Future, has arrived."

At exactly ten o'clock, Li Yaozong walked onto the stage.

He wore a dark‑gray shirt, no tie, sleeves rolled up to his forearms. Over three hundred pairs of eyes in the audience stared at him, flashlights flashing everywhere.

He stood at the center of the stage, waiting for the lights to dim.

"Everyone," he began, his voice not loud but heard clearly throughout the hall, "I invited you here today to see something."

He pressed the remote in his hand.

The big screen switched, showing the image of a phone.

The silver‑white metal body was nearly half as thin as the Phoenix 6th generation. The screen almost covered the entire front, with only a circular button at the bottom. On the screen, that star slowly rose, hovering at the exact center.

A stir rose from the audience.

"This is…"

"Smart device?"

"Phoenix's smart device?"

Li Yaozong waited for the stir to subside.

"Phoenix Smart Device, code name 'Phoenix S1'."

He pressed the remote once, and the screen switched to a specifications table.

"Screen: 3.5 inches, capacitive touch, resolution 320 × 480. Processor: our own developed Phoenix Chip No. 1, clock speed 600 MHz. Memory: 128 MB. Storage: 8 GB. Camera: 3‑megapixel. Battery: 2500 mAh."

He paused.

"This configuration is 20 % higher than foreign smart devices released at the same time."

The audience was quiet for a second.

Then someone raised a hand.

"President Li, may I ask when this phone will be on the market?"

"You can buy it today," Li Yaozong said, "with nationwide simultaneous release."

Another person raised a hand.

"President Li, what is the price?"

Li Yaozong pressed the remote.

Three lines of text appeared on the big screen:

Phoenix S1 High‑Spec version: 4500 yuan

Phoenix S1 Mid‑Spec version: 3500 yuan

Phoenix S1 Low‑Spec version: 2500 yuan

Another stir rose from the audience.

"Over a thousand yuan cheaper than Apple?"

"Can this price work?"

"Phoenix is trying to dominate the whole field."

Li Yaozong waited for the discussion to subside.

"The high‑spec version uses the best screen, the fastest processor, the largest memory. The mid‑spec version offers adequate performance at a moderate price. The low‑spec version lets those who want a smart device but have limited budget also get one."

He looked around the hall.

"Three tiers, covering everyone."

As applause faded, an arm was raised high.

It was a young reporter, wearing glasses, speaking very quickly.

"President Li, a year ago you personally said smart devices weren't Phoenix's business. You said feature phones could still thrive for five years and Phoenix would focus on feature phones. Why is a smart device appearing now?"

The hall fell silent instantly.

Everyone's gaze focused on Li Yaozong's face.

Li Yaozong stood there, expression unchanged.

He waited for the reporter to finish, then smiled.

"You still remember so clearly what I said a year ago?"

A light laugh rose from the audience.

Li Yaozong withdrew his smile.

"A year ago I said smart devices are the future. But I didn't say Phoenix wouldn't make the future."

He looked at the reporter.

"I said something else; you may not remember."

He paused.

"I said, wait until smart devices sell 100 million units before talking about it."

The audience was silent for a second.

Li Yaozong continued.

"Now, global sales of smart devices have already surpassed 150 million units. The market is mature, the technology is mature, the industry chain is mature."

He scanned the whole room.

"At this moment, Phoenix enters the stage."

Another reporter stood up.

"President Li, have you been secretly developing all this year?"

Li Yaozong looked at him.

"Research and development takes time. Phoenix began planning smart devices three years ago. Chips, systems, screens, batteries—every link is made by us."

He paused.

"It's just that we didn't hold a launch event."

A light laugh rippled through the audience.

The reporter followed up.

"Then why did you say those words a year ago?"

Li Yaozong smiled.

"What did I say?"

"You said smart devices aren't your thing."

Li Yaozong looked at him.

"My exact words then were: smart devices are the future, but feature phones are the rice bowl. The rice bowl of 1.1 billion people versus the early adopters of over 50 million, which do you think I should choose?"

He paused.

"I chose the rice bowl. But I haven't abandoned the future."

He looked at the reporter.

"Any questions?"

The reporter was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

"No problem."

The third reporter stood up.

"President Li, do you make your own chips? Can they compare with foreign ones?"

Li Yaozong pressed a remote.

A comparison chart appeared on the big screen.

The left side showed Phoenix Chip No. 1, the right side showed a peer chip from an international giant.

Clock speed: Phoenix 600 MHz, the other 550 MHz.

Power consumption: Phoenix 1.2 W, the other 1.5 W.

Integration: Phoenix integrates GPU, video decoding, baseband; the other requires external modules.

The audience was silent for a few seconds.

Then someone started clapping.

The applause grew louder.

Li Yaozong waited for the applause to subside.

"Phoenix Chip No. 1, from design to tape‑out, was completed entirely domestically. It uses not foreign technology, but our own."

He looked at the reporter.

"Can it compare?"

The reporter nodded.

"It can compare."

The fourth reporter stood up.

"President Li, what about your system? Is it also made in‑house?"

Li Yaozong nodded.

"The Phoenix S1 runs the Pangu Smart Edition. Its core is fully independently developed and compatible with mainstream apps. Phoenix Chat, Phoenix Cut, Phoenix Browser are all natively adapted."

He paused.

"Developers can write apps on it, users can install freely. It's as open as foreign smart devices."

The reporter asked further.

"Are there many apps?"

Li Yaozong looked toward the audience.

He did not answer that question.

Someone in the audience answered for him.

A middle‑aged man stood up, holding a Phoenix S1 Engineering model.

"I am a developer," he said, "the Phoenix developer platform has been online for three months, and I've already written four apps—tools, games, lifestyle, all of them."

He waved the phone in his hand.

The number of applications is now 1,200. At this time next year, it will be 10,000.

Applause broke out from the audience.

Li Yaozong looked at that person and nodded.

The fifth reporter stood up.

"Li Zong, what do you think of those foreign smartphone manufacturers?"

Li Yaozong thought for a moment.

"They're doing well. Apple, Nokia, Samsung— all are worthy opponents."

He paused.

"But they're selling too expensively in China."

Someone in the audience laughed.

Li Yaozong continued speaking.

"With the same specs, we're over a thousand cheaper. At the same price, our specs are much higher. For the same experience, we understand Chinese users better."

He looked around the venue.

"This is Fenghuang's advantage."

The presentation was halfway through when a message suddenly popped up on the big screen.

It was a real-time bullet chat from Fenghuang Talk.

"I'm watching the live stream, Fenghuang smartphone is really fragrant!"

"Li Zong, you lied to us for a year, but I'll buy the phone as soon as it comes out!"

"4500 is a bit pricey, but 2500 I can accept."

"I'm praying to get lucky, I want to grab the first batch!"

Someone in the audience laughed out loud.

Li Yaozong looked at those bullet chats and also laughed.

"Looks like everyone has forgiven me."

Laughter from the audience grew louder.

After the presentation ended, reporters swarmed toward the backstage.

Li Yaozong was surrounded so tightly that not even water could leak through.

"Li Zong, how much stock is prepared for the first batch?"

"Li Zong, do you have plans for overseas markets?"

"Li Zong, after smartphones come out, will you still make feature phones?"

Li Yaozong answered while squeezing his way out.

"We have prepared two million units; if not enough, we'll add more."

"Overseas market will be considered next year."

"Feature phones will continue to be made. If someone needs them, we'll make them."

Having squeezed to the doorway, he suddenly stopped.

He turned back and glanced at those reporters.

"Everyone, the Fenghuang S1 goes on sale next month. Those who want to write news, write more about this. Those who want to dig up old scores..."

He smiled.

"You can dig, but I won't acknowledge the debt."

Having said that, he got into the car and drove away.

That afternoon, the tech headlines of major portal sites were all replaced.

"Fenghuang Smartphone Shocking Release, Specs Crush Foreign Brands"

"Li Yaozong: A year ago I said smartphones are the future; now the future has arrived"

"Fenghuang S1 Three-Tier Pricing, Starting at 2500 Yuan, Aiming to Take Apple's Market?"

"Exclusive Exposé: How Fenghuang Secretly Developed Smartphones for Three Years"

The comment section erupted into chaos.

"Li Yaozong, this big liar, deceived me for a year!"

"He lied well; otherwise other manufacturers would have known earlier."

"I bought the 4500 one, supporting domestic products!"

"The 2500 one is acceptable for students; saving two months' living expenses is enough."

"Apple and Nokia are going to cry."

Shenzhen, Huaqiangbei.

At 3 p. m., a long line had already formed outside the Fenghuang Phone specialty store.

A young person stood at the end of the line, clutching a stack of cash.

The person beside him asked: "Brother, it's not on sale yet, why are you queuing so early?"

The youngster didn't turn his head.

"Afraid I won't get one. The first batch is only two million units, split nationwide—how many could Shenzhen have?"

That person nodded.

"That's right. Then I'll queue with you."

The line grew longer again.

Beijing, Zhongguancun.

A university student stood at the storefront, speaking into his phone.

"Dad, I've decided to buy the Phoenix S1, the 2500 one. Didn't we agree that if I got into Peking University you'd reward me two thousand? I'll add five hundred more, that'll be just enough."

A laugh came from the other end of the Telephone.

"Alright, go ahead and buy it. But you have to use it properly; don't just play games."

"Got it, Dad."

He hung up the Telephone, then looked up at the huge billboard at the shop entrance.

On the billboard, there was only one line of text:

"Future, has arrived."

He stared at it for a long time.

Then he smiled and walked into the store.

Shanghai, Nanjing Road.

A middle‑aged man emerged from the store, carrying a shopping bag in his hand.

Inside the bag was a high‑spec Phoenix S1.

As he walked, he unpacked it and transferred the SIM from his old phone to the new one.

He powered it on.

A star rose from the bottom and hovered at the center of the screen.

He opened Phoenix Chat and posted a Moments update.

The photo showed the shopping bag, and the caption was only four characters:

"Changed phones."

Thirty seconds later, the first comment appeared:

"Phoenix S1? How much?"

He replied:

"4500, worth it."

At seven p. m., Li Yaozong returned to Wanxiang Dasha.

The elevator rose to the thirty‑eighth floor; the doors opened, and seven or eight people stood in the hallway.

Chen Feng, Zhao Ming, Zhou Ye, Wang Bo, Liu Yang, Zhang Lei, Fang Wenshan, Lin Jiawen.

Seeing him, everyone smiled.

Chen Feng spoke first.

"Director Li, what you said today was excellent."

Li Yaozong looked at him.

"What's so good?"

"Good to…" Chen Feng smiled, "good to the point I almost believed it; we only started three years ago."

Li Yaozong was momentarily stunned, then smiled.

"We originally only began three years ago. It's just that we never held a press conference."

Zhou Ye interjected from the side.

"Director Li, Phoenix Clip's downloads surged today. Since the press conference ended, in four hours, over three million new downloads have been added."

Wang Bo continued.

"Creators are also exploding. Lots of people are asking whether they can shoot videos with the Phoenix S1 and upload them."

Li Yaozong listened to each report without interrupting.

When everyone finished speaking, he finally spoke.

"Today is only the beginning."

He looked around the room.

"There are still tough battles ahead."

Chen Feng nodded.

"Understood."

At nine p. m., Li Yaozong was the last to leave the office.

He reached the doorway, stopped, and glanced back.

On the desk lay a Phoenix S1 engineering unit.

The screen was still lit, showing the Phoenix Chat interface.

He walked over and picked up the phone.

He opened Moments and scrolled through.

The first post was from a developer. The photo showed today's press conference venue, and the caption read:

"A year ago he said he wouldn't do it; a year later he produced this. Director Li, you've fooled us well."

The second post was from an ordinary user. The photo showed a newly bought Phoenix S1, and the caption read:

"2500 yuan, better than I imagined. Worth it."

The third post was from a media reporter. The photo showed the interview with Li Yaozong after the press conference, and the caption read:

"Li Yaozong said today: I said smart devices are the future; now the future has arrived. That sentence deserves the headline."

He looked at those comments and smiled.

Then he turned off the screen and placed the phone back on the desk.

He walked out the door and turned off the lights.

The elevator descended to the first floor, the doors opened, and a few security guards stood outside.

Seeing him, the guards nodded.

He walked out and stood on the steps at the doorway.

The March night wind still carried a chill. In the distance, Fenghuang Mountain was hidden in darkness, and the lights of the Nanshan Research Center glittered like a field of stars.

He stood for a while, then headed toward the parking lot.

Before getting in the car, he turned to glance at Wanxiang Dasha.

Wanshang Great Summer, its lights bright.

The future has arrived!