Chapter 292: Carrot and Stick

"How big is the memory of the Shenzhou USB drive?"

"How long is the estimated service life of R&D, and what is the probability of losing files?"

Compared with Walter, Du Jiabin, who came from a technical background, was most concerned about the technical problems on the Shenzhou USB drive.

"Currently, the memory of the Shenzhou USB drive is divided into two types: 16M and 32M. However, I believe that within the year, we can overcome the USB drive technology with 64M or even larger memory."

"The service life is about eight to ten years, but if it can be standardized and properly maintained, the actual usage situation may exceed the estimate!"

Chen Tao said seriously to Du Jiabin. In front of such insiders, it makes no sense to say anything more.

Hearing this, Du Jiabin nodded. Even if the Shenzhou USB drive has more moisture, it will kill the current floppy disk technology in seconds. One USB drive is equivalent to dozens of floppy disks, and the recorder is too cumbersome. In comparison, the advantages of the USB drive are simply too obvious.

The Shenzhou USB drive replacing floppy disks, optical discs, and recorders is almost a foreseeable thing. Du Jiabin even feels that the entire office software industry may change!

Another thing is that when printing, storing computer files, or handing over files, transferring files from one computer to another is a big problem. A floppy disk alone cannot hold so many files, and now the appearance of the USB drive may change these troubles!

"Dongling Gao Ke is developing a USB drive with larger memory and higher safety factor. Maybe one day in the future, Microsoft's system can also be stored on the Shenzhou USB drive. Of course, the premise is that the Shenzhou USB drive is safe enough to ensure that the encryption technology will not be cracked by hackers!" Li Dongling said to Du Jiabin and Walter.

Hearing this, the two were surprised but also somewhat expectant for a while. If the Shenzhou USB drive can really do these things, it is absolutely a big benefit for companies developing software, which not only facilitates transmission but also reduces some counterfeit goods and increases some revenue.

"Mr. Li, I just said, I ensure that it can be passed by the Microsoft board of directors. Microsoft can become the agent of Shenzhou USB drive in North America, allowing Shenzhou USB drive to appear on the counters of all Microsoft's agency rights and retail channels in North America!"

In the era without email and Internet download channels, how did Microsoft and those companies sell systems and software? First record it on an optical disc, then sell the optical disc to users, and let users install it on their computers at home. Now the encryption technology is not as superb as in later generations, leading to various counterfeit and pirated software rampant.

Microsoft has established a perfect sales channel all over the world in America, North America, old Europe, and Asia, ensuring that users who want to buy Microsoft systems and software in major cities can find Microsoft's optical discs in retail stores!

If Microsoft can really open its sales channels to the Shenzhou USB drive, the sales of the USB drive in North America may set an amazing record!

This temptation is indeed very large. Walter does not believe that Dongling Gao Ke can refuse his proposal. To be honest, although Microsoft is a software company, the sales channels it has established are among the best in the entire computer industry, beating other software companies, and many of them are exclusive agreements. Microsoft's sales can exceed other peers, and strong sales channels are also crucial.

In North America, besides Microsoft, it is almost impossible to find a better partner for Shenzhou USB drive. Other retail channels are even darker than Microsoft!

Li Dongling chuckled. If it was just to earn revenue, then cooperating directly with Microsoft and letting Microsoft, this behemoth, act as an agent for sales would naturally be the best.

But this time, what Dongling Gao Ke wants is not just to sell more USB drives. What Dongling Gao Ke wants is the interface standard of the global computer industry!

"Dongling Gao Ke naturally hopes to reach a new cooperation with Microsoft, and also believes that Microsoft can let the USB drive appear on the computers of countless computer users in North America!"

When Walter heard this, a smile appeared on his face. If he could bring the USB drive back to Microsoft's Seattle headquarters and hand it over to the Microsoft board of directors, he would definitely be rewarded. Walter knows clearly that Bill Gates, Ballmer, and others have never given up on Microsoft's test of the water in the hardware industry.

And the USB drive can absolutely let Microsoft sweep away the decline in the hardware industry in recent years, and even let Microsoft go further in the hardware industry. As for the revenue brought by the USB drive, it goes without saying.

As long as you can get the agency rights, then Microsoft can raise the price of the USB drive from Dongling Gao Ke by 30% or even 50% and sell it to American users, which is probably not a problem at all. No one is more familiar with doing monopoly business than Microsoft.

"However..."

Li Dongling's sudden words made the smile on Walter's face disappear, and he looked at Li Dongling with a solemn expression, fearing that Li Dongling would put forward conditions that would open his mouth like a lion.

"Dongling Gao Ke hopes to have a lot of cooperation with Microsoft on the USB drive project!"

"What does Mr. Li mean?" Du Jiabin also asked with some worry.

"It's not a condition, but Dongling Gao Ke wants to take the opportunity of the Shenzhou USB drive and the Silver Sable second-generation optical mouse to unite with Microsoft and related computer companies to jointly establish a global USB alliance and launch a set of USB computer interface standards applicable to all computers and related equipment to solve the current chaotic and disorderly interface problems!"

Du Jiabin and Walter looked at Li Dongling with dumbfounded expressions. They had thought that Li Dongling would put forward some special conditions, but they didn't expect it to be such a condition!

Establishing a USB alliance and establishing a set of interface standards applicable to the entire computer industry—Du Jiabin and Walter were both startled when they heard this.

Even a company as strong as Microsoft didn't dare to say that it wanted to push a concept of its own in the computer industry. But after being surprised, as computer practitioners, Du Jiabin and Walter couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement.

Ask, which person in the computer industry, whether hardware or software, doesn't want to launch a concept led by themselves, so that the entire computer industry chain, as well as countless computer users, all use their own standards...

Li Dongling didn't care about the reaction of Du Jiabin and Walter, and continued, "Now the computer interface standards are inconsistent, making it difficult for users to choose, and also causing huge waste, and it is also not environmentally friendly. If there can be a unified standard, no matter which mouse and keyboard the user buys, it can be applied to any computer. This is absolutely the most important moment in the history of the computer industry!"

"Dongling Gao Ke hopes to create such a moment with Microsoft!"

Du Jiabin and Walter had various thoughts in their minds for a while. Li Dongling's proposal exceeded their expectations.

They clearly know that Li Dongling's proposal to establish a USB alliance must be based on the standard of the Shenzhou USB drive, and the patents must be in the hands of Dongling Gao Ke. Once this standard is determined, Dongling Gao Ke is absolutely the biggest winner. In the future, all computer manufacturers, mouse manufacturers, keyboard manufacturers, and many products involving USB interfaces such as scanners, printers, etc., will have to pay patent fees to Dongling Gao Ke.

Even if Dongling Gao Ke only charges a few cents of patent fees for one machine, with the explosive growth of global electronic digital products, this will be an astronomical figure of revenue.

"This... I'm sorry, we can't make a decision, we need to report to the Seattle board of directors!" Du Jiabin said to Li Dongling. This matter has exceeded his authority and needs to be decided by Bill Gates.

Li Dongling didn't care. He asked Du Jiabin and the others to come over today just to let them be messengers, and didn't expect them to give an answer immediately.

If Du Jiabin agreed on the spot, Li Dongling would have to doubt whether Microsoft was going to play any small tricks again.

"Of course!"

"However, I hope that the Microsoft Seattle headquarters can give an answer as soon as possible. This Saturday, Dongling Gao Ke's new product press conference will be officially held. If Microsoft cannot make a decision for a long time, then Dongling Gao Ke will have to look for other partners, such as IBM, Sun, or companies like Compaq, HP, Dell, etc.!"

"If Microsoft can decide to jointly form a USB alliance with Dongling Gao Ke, then the Shenzhou USB drive can hand over the North American agency rights to Microsoft, and the second-generation Silver Sable mouse will also continue to authorize patents to Microsoft, and one more point..."

Li Dongling seemed to say "casually", "The first president of the global USB alliance, I want to invite Mr. Bill Gates to serve. I don't know, I just don't know, is he interested?"

What is "interested"? Walter wanted to agree as soon as he heard this. He knew Bill Gates' character. Bill Gates, who has now achieved financial freedom, wants fame and fortune!

As the world's richest man, Bill Gates must not be short of wealth and status. What he lacks is influence and reputation. Why is he desperately doing charity? Besides tax avoidance, it must be fame and fortune. If he can become the first president of the USB alliance, Bill Gates cannot refuse!

"I will convey this matter to President Bill Gates. This matter will give Dongling Gao Ke an answer as soon as possible!"

Walter got up and said, then left in a hurry, clearly going to report the news to Bill Gates far away in Seattle.

"In the first three quarters of this year, Microsoft achieved revenue of 6.4 billion US dollars, with more than 20,000 employees worldwide. It is expected that revenue will exceed the 10 billion US dollar mark this year!"

At the Microsoft headquarters, a board meeting is being held. After the CFO finished speaking, there was a round of applause. Bill Gates also clapped with a smile. Just before this meeting today, Microsoft's stock price had risen for 14 consecutive months, and the stock price had doubled, completely getting rid of the rumors of the previous breakup risk.

After the meeting, Bill Gates, who was in a good mood, prepared to go to his super mansion to check the construction period.

As a focus figure in the tech industry, Bill Gates is not an ascetic. He is a person who knows how to enjoy life. Sports cars, yachts, private jets, super mansions, of course, various parties, celebrities, and models, Bill Gates has also participated in many. The extravagant life of tech industry practitioners in America and Silicon Valley after making a fortune is almost in the same line as old predecessors like Bill Gates.

"President Gates, there is news from Asia. Walter said there is urgent news and needs to talk to you!"

Just as Bill Gates was about to leave, an assistant ran in and said to Bill Gates.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 293 =====