"Benefactor?"
Wang Yi smiled.
Right now, he was Duan Fangzhou's benefactor, but once Duan Fangzhou became the vice president of China Unicom Group, it would be hard to say.
In short, the cooperation with Duan Fangzhou, which allowed Duan Fangzhou to achieve outstanding performance and further advance, brought only benefits and no harm to Wang Yi.
There was no other way; with his humble background, lacking a strong background and network resources, he could only create and cultivate resources himself.
For example, Zhao Huan became the vice president of a branch.
It was just that Wang Yi didn't lack money; if he did, a word to Zhao Huan would ensure that funds from Pudong Development Bank would be swiftly approved.
Even if the amount was substantial, or somewhat non-compliant, it could still be managed.
The same applied to Duan Fangzhou.
After declining Duan Fangzhou's invitation for a second round, Wang Yi went straight back to Song Sining's home.
Damn, these state-owned enterprise leaders really know how to drink!
Wang Yi had a headache.
Perhaps anticipating this situation, Song Sining returned home early in the afternoon and cooked hangover relief porridge for Wang Yi, which made him feel much better.
In the evening, after sobering up, Wang Yi chatted with Song Sining.
Song Sining was somewhat puzzled:
"China Mobile is currently the strongest, why must we choose China Unicom?"
Wang Yi smiled faintly:
"Choosing to cooperate with China Unicom has four layers of strategic significance."
"The first layer: China Telecom in the South, China Unicom in the North. Northern companies cannot do without China Unicom."
With this cooperation, network engineering for Meiyou Science Park, Xingyi Skyscraper, and Wujie Science Park will no longer be an issue in the future.
Duan Fangzhou just needed to give a nod, and his subordinates would do everything perfectly and give Wang Yi the best possible discounts.
For example, the cloud data center project currently under construction has extremely high network requirements and needs dedicated optical fiber cables laid.
Before, he would have inevitably arranged for subordinates to treat the responsible parties to drinks and KTV entertainment...
But now, with Duan Fangzhou's connections, the relevant personnel would eagerly come to serve Xingyi Technology.
There's no other way; that's just how a society based on personal connections works.
Song Sining nodded:
"That's true, opening a company in the North really can't do without China Unicom. What about the second layer!"
"The second consideration is that China Mobile's 3G is too poor, and the popularization of the 4G era still needs time. Currently, China Unicom's 3G is the optimal solution."
"I see."
Song Sining suddenly realized.
Wang Yi continued:
"As for the third layer of strategic significance, it is to use the Xingshen Card to reduce data costs and barriers for Xingyi Technology users, allowing them to embrace the mobile internet as quickly as possible."
"By offering data-free usage for Xingyi ecosystem apps, we can attract more users, expand our user base, increase the time users spend on Xingyi ecosystem software, and thus achieve dual growth in user numbers and revenue scale."
"As for the fourth consideration, it's to suppress Apple!"
"What? Cooperating with China Unicom can also suppress Apple?"
Song Sining was startled, then suddenly realized:
"Right, currently, the iPhone 4s has the highest sales among China Unicom's contract phones."
"Exactly!"
Wang Yi nodded.
Last year's iPhone 4 contract phone was initially secured by China Mobile.
This year, China Mobile's 3G was too inferior, so Apple abandoned China Mobile and chose to cooperate with China Unicom.
Therefore, in Xiaguo, in addition to Apple's own channels, China Unicom's contract phones also accounted for a large proportion of sales.
Now that Xingyi Technology is cooperating with China Unicom, the Xphone 1 and Xphone 1pro have become China Unicom's contract phones. This will undoubtedly severely impact the iPhone 4s.
Simply put, the provincial China Unicom's contract phone orders are limited. If 700,000 orders are placed for the Xphone 1 and Xphone 1pro, then the corresponding iPhone 4s will have 700,000 fewer orders.
In the future, posters and display cabinets for the iPhone 4s in China Unicom's business halls will largely, or even entirely, be replaced by those for the Xphone 1 and Xphone 1pro.
The contract phone plans promoted by sales assistants will also change from iPhone 4s contract phone plans to Xphone 1 and Xphone 1pro contract phone plans!
Furthermore, the iPhone 4s was already slow-selling, while the Xphone 1, a mid-range phone starting from three thousand, and the Xphone 1pro, a high-end phone starting from five thousand, perfectly matched different consumer groups and sold well nationwide!
The result is predictable: sales assistants would naturally be more willing to promote Xingyi phones, and consumers would also be more willing to buy Xingyi phones.
As one declines and the other rises, the already sluggish sales of the iPhone 4s in the domestic market will only worsen.
And the already strong sales trend of the Xphone 1 and Xphone 1pro will further improve.
Cooperation with China Unicom is equivalent to using Xingyi phone contract phones to replace iPhone contract phones, further seizing iPhone's market share and survival space in the domestic market.
This layer of strategic significance must be considered.
"So, cooperating with China Unicom can not only achieve the optimal experience in the 3G era but also curb the domestic sales of the iPhone 4s. The Chairman is truly wise."
Song Sining was filled with emotion; if she had made the decision, she would have certainly chosen to cooperate with China Mobile, which has the largest user base.
But if that were the case, it might truly be over.
After all, China Mobile's 3G was truly inferior, Apple had already abandoned China Mobile, so Xingyi Technology had no need to bite the bullet and cooperate.
Wang Yi smiled faintly:
"However, once China Mobile enters the 4G era, we can deepen our cooperation with them. As for now, if China Mobile or China Telecom come to us, we can agree to produce contract phones. But for customized SIM cards, let's not. We'll reconsider it in the 4G era."
"Okay." Song Sining firmly noted it, then looked at Wang Yi, her eyes becoming captivating: "Qingming Festival is coming soon. Shall we return to the Imperial Capital after Qingming?"
Since it was rare for Wang Yi to return, Song Sining naturally wanted him to stay a few more days, so she could also have a few more days of private time with him.
As time passed, Song Sining found herself growing more and more infatuated with Wang Yi, wishing she could see him every day upon waking.
"Qingming..." Wang Yi nodded: "Alright, then we'll go back after Qingming. I'll spend more time with my President Song!"
"Mhmm, you're the best!"
Song Sining was in a great mood and offered him a tender kiss.
Then she leaned down.
Allowing Wang Yi to once again enjoy Song's "Saliva Chicken."
The taste was truly indescribable.
Wang Yi was in a great mood, determined to treat this girl who deeply loved him well.
From his past life to this life, everything had changed, the only constant being Song Sining's feelings for him.
Just as Wang Yi and Song Sining were engaging in deep communication, a piece of news hit the trending searches:
[By the end of March, Changliao's user count broke the 100 million mark!]
Immediately, the entire internet was in an uproar, and public opinion exploded:
"What? Changliao users exceeded 100 million? My God, how long has it been?"
"Changliao launched on New Year's Day, and in just three months, users exceeded 100 million! Awesome, truly amazing, WeChat must be crying in the toilet."
"Hahaha, WeChat is so awkward, got up early but arrived late."
"No wonder, the first version of Changliao was better and more powerful than the version WeChat released after a year."
"Yes, Changliao launched all the features first, and WeChat would follow up a month or two later, with some even unable to keep up. It was constantly falling behind, completely not as user-friendly as Changliao."
"Features like local tours and nearby cuisine were launched by Changliao long ago; WeChat hasn't even copied them yet, so users definitely went to use Changliao!"
"The latest version of WeChat now is only at the level of Changliao from two months ago. Constantly falling behind, I myself switched from WeChat to Changliao."
"It feels like WeChat is being led by the nose by Changliao; whatever Changliao released, WeChat would immediately follow up and start copying. But unfortunately, by the time WeChat finally managed to copy it, Changliao would release new features. WeChat could only continue copying..."
"One step behind, always behind. WeChat is done for, Changliao users deserve to exceed 100 million."
"All my friends around me have abandoned WeChat and switched to Changliao."
"Changliao users exceeding 100 million in three months definitely has boundless prospects. WeChat is certainly no match, and even QQ is feeling the pressure."
"Changliao has already defeated WeChat; I look forward to the day Changliao defeats QQ."
"Will that day come? QQ has 600 million users!"
"What about 600 million users? Alt accounts are a dime a dozen; the real active users probably aren't even 300 million."
"This data is reliable, after all, how many internet users does our country even have?"
"Changliao's 100 million users are more genuine; one phone number can only register one Changliao account. If you want to create an alt account, you'd have to maintain two SIM cards, which is too expensive."
"In that case, Changliao defeating QQ is only a matter of time."
"Definitely, Changliao is for acquaintance social networking. I'm looking forward to Changliao's new features."
...
Seeing this trending search, the people at Xingyi Technology were in high spirits, and the employees of Meiyou Technology were also extremely excited.
But Pony Ma, who was about to go to bed, had a livid expression:
"Three months, users exceeding 100 million, even monthly active users exceeding 100 million. Terrifying, truly terrifying!"
Changliao users need to register with a phone number, and one phone number can only register one Changliao account.
Therefore, Changliao's user count has very low 'moisture'; 100 million users means 100 million active users.
Unlike QQ's current 600 million users, whose real active users probably need to be cut in half.
Chairman Ma's expression changed dramatically, and he immediately dialed Zhang Long's number:
"Old Zhang, you know about Changliao users exceeding 100 million, right?"
Zhang Long sighed:
"I know, Chairman, we lost."
Pony Ma's mouth twitched: "..."
I'm not even angry yet, and you've already conceded defeat. What am I supposed to do?
Am I supposed to comfort you?
Pony Ma's mouth twitched:
"How many users does our WeChat have now?"
"WeChat has 80 million registered users."
"That many!" Pony Ma was startled: "Then if QQ diverts some users, wouldn't we exceed 100 million? That would at least save face."
Zhang Long, however, frowned slightly:
"It's no use, Chairman. We have 80 million registered users, but only 30 million active users remain."
Pony Ma fell silent: "..."
"Those 50 million registered users have all become Changliao users."
Pony Ma's face turned livid: "!!!"
Changliao and WeChat's positioning and features highly overlapped.
Although WeChat started a year earlier, it performed poorly.
Changliao, despite starting late, crushed WeChat's efforts of over a year with its first version, and subsequently innovated and maintained a continuous lead.
So much so that WeChat could only follow behind Changliao, constantly copying.
Given this, was there any need to say how users would choose?
Naturally, they all abandoned WeChat and switched to Changliao.
Thus, over 50 million WeChat users completely abandoned WeChat and collectively switched to Changliao, causing Changliao's user count to exceed 100 million.
No wonder Zhang Long, who usually conceded to no one, bluntly stated that WeChat had lost.
With the situation developing to this point, they had indeed lost.
With only 30 million active users left, WeChat could essentially enter the ICU, unable to withstand Changliao's rapid development.
"Alas! This is difficult."
Chairman Ma sighed.
Zhang Long was even more decisive:
"Chairman, why don't we abandon WeChat!"
Zhang Long's expression was dejected; he was truly powerless to fight anymore.
Changliao was too powerful!
New features were released so many, so fast, and so well that WeChat couldn't even keep up with copying them!
Rather than continuing to struggle, it would only be trailing behind Changliao, eating its dust, and bringing humiliation upon themselves.
Pony Ma, however, shook his head:
"We cannot give up. WeChat still has value! You all must continue to work hard."
"WeChat still has value?" Zhang Long's expression changed slightly, then he forced a bitter smile: "Chairman, WeChat's remaining value is merely to serve as QQ's moat, blocking Changliao for QQ, right?"
Zhang Long was very clear about it.
As long as WeChat continued to exist, even if it couldn't defeat Changliao, it could still divert some of Changliao's users.
Without these users, it would be even harder for Changliao to catch up to QQ, let alone surpass it.
This was WeChat's only purpose for existing now: to be cannon fodder for QQ.
Chairman Ma sighed and said earnestly:
"President Zhang, Tencent has invested a lot in WeChat, and WeChat should provide returns to Tencent!"
Zhang Long nodded:
"This... I understand, Chairman Ma. I will push forward with WeChat's new version as soon as possible, continue copying... continue chasing Changliao!"
"Very good!" Chairman Ma said meaningfully: "President Zhang, as long as WeChat can continue to curb Changliao's development and divert Changliao's users, you will have rendered great service! Now that WeChat has failed, QQ absolutely cannot be surpassed by Changliao. Social networking is our foundation!"
"Yes! I will go all out!"
Zhang Long promised, but he knew very well that WeChat couldn't hold on for much longer.
In three months, WeChat had 50 million users taken away by Changliao.
How long could the remaining 30 million users sustain it?
When a once wildly popular game is abandoned by most people, that game is not far from shutting down.
Essentially, social software and games are the same.
Now that WeChat has been abandoned by most users, it's not far from going out of business.
Even if they continued R&D, it would only be to serve as QQ's moat, to be cannon fodder to block Changliao!
This was a battle they were bound to lose, yet had no choice but to fight!
Zhang Long's expression was dejected; he could only sigh helplessly:
"WeChat, in the end, is following in MiTalk's footsteps!"
Chairman Ma, however, smiled faintly:
"Old Zhang, don't be disheartened. Even if it's just to serve as QQ's moat, the headquarters will continue to invest in WeChat. As long as you persevere, there might still be a day when the clouds part and the moon shines through!"
"Wait till the clouds disperse to see the moon?" Zhang Long gave a bitter laugh: "Chairman, will that day truly come?"
"It depends on you. As long as you don't abandon, don't give up, in the end... there is hope."
Chairman Ma said in a deep voice, though he felt a bit lacking in confidence.
He still strongly supported WeChat, but used WeChat to counter Changliao, diverting Changliao users, thereby protecting QQ.
As for WeChat waiting for the clouds to clear and the moon to shine, growing bigger and stronger, and defeating Changliao...
Chairman Ma didn't believe it!
But to stabilize Zhang Long, he could only offer false hope and encouragement...
"Alright, then I'll do my best..."
Zhang Long took a deep breath, hung up the phone, his entire being filled with extreme complexity.
"Wang Yi, oh Wang Yi, meeting you is WeChat's sorrow, and even more so, my own sorrow!"
"If it weren't for you, and without Changliao, WeChat would be the one with over 100 million users now, right?"
"Alas!"
With a long, drawn-out sigh, Zhang Long looked out the window.
The night was deep, and there was no glimmer of hope ahead.
Meiyou Technology, however, presented a different scene.
The entire Changliao department once again held a video conference.
But it wasn't for work, it was for celebration!
"Do you think, with Changliao users exceeding 100 million, Chairman Wang will personally commend us?"
"Probably, after all, we've defeated WeChat. Chairman Wang is in Jizhou right now, he might even come tomorrow."
"It's possible, we are considered a meritorious department."
"Working at Xingyi Technology gives a sense of achievement. Our Changliao department will definitely be a T0 department in the future!"
"Haha, I just graduated and accidentally stumbled into Meiyou Technology, then entered the Changliao development team, and successfully got gilded. So lucky, hahaha."
"Good for you, you've successfully 'gilded yourself,' now you can job hop."
"Job hop? Where else could I jump to after leaving Xingyi Technology? Just kidding, there's no better company than Xingyi Technology."
"What about your partner? Isn't she a young mistress from Gusu? Aren't you going to find her? Didn't she say she wouldn't marry unless you went to Gusu City?"
"I don't care if she marries or not. Women only slow down my coding speed, and even if we break up, don't even think about me giving up my job at Xingyi Technology."
"That's right, men, career comes first!"
"If you put love first and give up your career, you'll find that with no career, your love also withers."
"But if your career comes first, even if love is gone, you'll be so 'poor' you'll only have money left, and you can easily find new love."
"I've learned a lot, Du Ge. Career first, making money first."
"Exactly, focus on making money, save up well. Someday, I'll take you to Red Romance!"
"..."
Cai Zisong was speechless:
"Stop bullshitting, don't lead the new guy astray, he's only 22! Go wash up and get some sleep. Arrive at the department early tomorrow and continue to push forward with the next module of business!"
"Yes!"
"Good night!"
"Night!"
Everyone went offline.
Sure enough, early the next morning, Wang Yi arrived at Meiyou Building and went straight to the Changliao department.
For a core confidential business like Changliao, which required strict secrecy before its launch, Wang Yi still entrusted it to Cai Zisong and other trusted veterans in Jizhou.
Cai Zisong possessed considerable capability, excellent character, and strong abilities. He had been highly valued by Wang Yi since the development phase of Meiyou.
This time, the development of Changliao was also done very well.
Wang Yi planned to entrust him with important tasks.
For example, the position of Vice President and Technical Director of Xingyi Technology's Lu Province headquarters would be given to Cai Zisong.
As for the President of the Lu Province headquarters, Song Sining would still hold that concurrently.
He would then arrange for a few reliable vice presidents to assist her.
Of course, after this period of development, many outstanding talents had also emerged at the Imperial Capital headquarters.
Wang Yi had always had the assessment department secretly observe, assess, and evaluate.
Anyone with potential, capability, and no issues with their character would enter the Executive Program.
They would subsequently be assigned to various provincial headquarters and entrusted with important responsibilities.
Compared to poaching management personnel from BAT to parachute in, Wang Yi preferred his own people cultivated by Xingyi Technology.
If all management positions were given to outsiders, his old employees would certainly be disheartened, but major corporations generally didn't care about that.
For no other reason than they only thought about how to dismiss these old employees and replace them with cheaper new ones.
But Wang Yi was not so cold-hearted; at Xingyi Technology, there was no malpractice of laying off employees at 35 and dismissing them.
On the contrary, as long as one was competent and performed well, working until 53 was not an issue.
However, if one truly couldn't keep up and performance was substandard, Wang Yi, out of consideration for veteran employees, would arrange a transfer to a relatively relaxed second-tier department.
Although the compensation would decrease, the work would be easier, preventing a mid-life crisis and the inability to find a job after being laid off.
It can be said that at Xingyi Technology, anyone who worked for five or ten years could accumulate a substantial amount of savings.
After 35, whether choosing to retreat to a second-tier position and 'lie flat' or continue to strive on the front lines, one could have a brilliant future.
However, if one became addicted to prostitution, gambling, and drugs, squandering all the hard-earned money from their youth, then there would be no saving them.
Such employees were also the type Wang Yi would dismiss immediately.
These people were unstable elements; once their savings ran out, they could easily act desperately and sell company intelligence for profit.
Such unstable individuals were the ones who should be laid off, not a blanket cut of everyone over 35.
Wang Yi looked around the Changliao department and smiled faintly:
"Everyone, you've worked hard! Changliao users exceeding 100 million is inseparable from everyone's efforts! This year, the entire Changliao department, all employees will receive an additional two months of year-end bonus! If Changliao's active users exceed 200 million by year-end, there will be another two months of year-end bonus!"
Upon hearing this, everyone became excited.
An additional two months of year-end bonus meant that the original two months of bonus would become four months!
If active users exceeded 200 million, that would be six months of year-end bonus!
Developers at Inspur next door had salaries between 2500-3500, which was already the top-tier high-salary echelon in Jizhou.
Meanwhile, developers at Jizhou Meiyou Technology had salaries between 3000-4500, 20% higher than competitors!
This compensation was even higher than IBM's.
Consequently, with an additional four to six months of year-end bonus, another twenty thousand would be in hand, which would be absolutely awesome.
One must know that the current average annual income in Jizhou was just over twenty thousand.
Competitors' year-end bonuses were only one or two months.
It could only be said that the compensation Wang Yi offered was too high.
Monthly salaries were even higher than international giants, and competitors were even considering suing Wang Yi for maliciously raising salaries.
Now, giving out year-end bonuses two or three times higher than competitors was simply insane.
However, precisely because of this, Xingyi Technology's employees didn't even consider resigning, not even if they broke up a long-distance relationship.
They also didn't consider job-hopping; it was hard to find better compensation than at Xingyi Technology.
They had basically reached the peak.
For a department like Changliao, doing well meant earning 18 months' salary in a year, over seventy thousand, which was two or three times the average salary in Jizhou!
"Thank you, Chairman!"
Everyone applauded enthusiastically.
Wang Yi waved his hand:
"Here with me, compensation is not a problem, and year-end bonuses are not a problem. As long as your performance is outstanding, anything is possible!"
"Alright, tell me, how are the service accounts, subscription accounts, and enterprise accounts progressing?"
"Yes!" Cai Zisong responded, explaining in detail: "Chairman, over the past few months, our Changliao department has contacted many organizations and departments, and finally opened up many service accounts. They have successively logged into Changliao and begun testing."
"Some enterprise accounts have also been opened. Subscription accounts are also being cultivated, and many Weibo KOLs are willing to come to Changliao to get verified and open accounts."
Wang Yi nodded:
"Very good. Then expedite it, complete the final tests, and officially launch the public account feature after some time!"
At that time, it can be launched together with the Xingshen Card, Gaode Card, and Ele.me Card!
And then snatch tens of millions more users!
(End of chapter)