The Great Power of Times

Chapter 63: loan

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As a self-motivated boss, Li Zetian's life was very plain and fulfilling.

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

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

Microsoft Corporation: BASIC compiler, Excel spreadsheet office software.

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

The Mac graphical interface operating system is based on the Unix operating system developed by AT&T Bell Labs as a prototype and is written in C language. At present, the Unix operating system is free and public, 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 of it and suggested that Apple would take advantage of AT&T's lack of attention to the Unix operating system and buy the permanent license of the Unix operating system at a low price, so that it could be done once and for all.

"Mr·li, AT&T published an article on the Unix operating system at the International Computer Society ACM in July 1974, which was the first contact between UNIX and the outside world. As a result, it 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 it has become an example teaching material in current operating system courses. Various university companies have begun to use Unix source code to carry out various Unix programs. As a result, Unix became widely popular. But sooner or later those idiots at AT&T will find the value of the Unix operating system, so we better get the permanent license of the Unix source code!!!" When Jobs spoke, he said: AT&T is full of disdain, it is so stupid to publish the source code of such a good Unix operating system!

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 meeting an Australian businessman. With the help of JWT advertising company, Apple has contacted many overseas agencies of Apple-l personal computer, and its products have entered the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Belgium, RB Korea, Hong Kong , Taiwan, Singapore and other regions.

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

Ten minutes later, the Australian businessman came out of his office.

Li Zetian came to Tian Shuai's office.

"Having negotiated with Australian retailers?"

"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. As soon as the Apple-ll personal computer is released, it can be sold all over the world. Yes. Now, I am more worried that the production capacity of Apple-ll 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 for a while, and it was true. The scale of the Apple factory was average, and it could only produce 1,500 Apple-lls a month at full capacity. In addition, the first-generation computer Apple-l has not been discontinued, and is still producing 200 machines per month.

"Tian Shuai, what advice do you have?" Li Zetian asked. Although he already had an idea, he wanted to hear Tian Shuai's advice first!

If you listen to one side, it will be dark; if you listen to both, you will be bright.

As a boss, I still need to listen to the opinions of my subordinates, and at the same time, it can also make the other party feel that they attach great importance to him, so that they 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 obtain bank loans.”

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 time will have to be postponed. Compared with external financing, I am more inclined to borrow from banks! "Li Zetian won't let Apple raise funds at this time. After Apple-ll is released, Apple will definitely make a lot of money, and then go public directly!

Of course, it was very difficult for Chinese in this period to get loans from American banks. At this time, Li Zetian thought that Bill Gates' grandfather was a big banker, and he could ask Bill Gates to help.

"Tian Shuai, I will find a way about the bank loan, but it really doesn't work, let's refinance! By the way, I'm looking for you this time for the Mac lab. Jobs suggested that I make the AT&T company's Unix operating system permanent. Licensed! Once AT&T realizes the value of the Unix operating system, it will charge us, if we pay AT&T $50 for every Mac we sell, then 1 million is $50 million!! !"

Tian Shuai was startled, obviously frightened by this number.

Li Zetian continued: "So, we must now take advantage of AT&T's ignorance of the value of the Unix operating system and buy its perpetual license at a low price! Tian Shuai, immediately contact AT&T in the name of Apple's CEO and ask them to discuss Come on, I'll go with you then!"

"Okay, I'll call now!"

Having said that, 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'll set off!"

"Um!"

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, in order to expand the Apple-ll production plant, Apple plans to borrow a loan from the bank! Look, can you introduce my grandfather to me?"

Bill Gates laughed: "No problem, I'll give him a call later!"

As Microsoft's partner, the better Apple is, the better it will be for Microsoft. At least for now. And with Bill Gates' understanding of Apple-ll, once it is released, it will definitely sell well! Therefore, it is not a big problem to get my grandfather to agree to loan to Apple!

"By the way, Chronos, how much is Apple going to loan?"

"$10 million!!!"

"The expansion of the company needs so much money?" Bill Gates was stunned.

"Haha, since I have borrowed a loan from the bank, I will simply borrow a little more. In addition to using it to expand the factory, I also plan to build an Apple retail store in the United States!"

"But $10 million isn't 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, it was the first time he heard this 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 only operating a relatively series of products or Products of a certain brand! The purpose of establishing a flagship store is to better show the corporate brand image to the outside world, so that more people know about Apple and its products. It can be said that the 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 wants to be respected and noticed. On the one hand, flagship store marketing shows off dignity, and on the other hand, through brand worship, Satisfy the psychological desires of consumers.”

High, really high!

Bill Gates couldn't help but give Li Zetian a thumbs up, secretly saying, Microsoft will also 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 at night!"

"Okay, bye!!!"

At night, Li Zetian was lying on the sofa reading the newspaper, but from time to time his eyes turned to the phone not far away.

At about 9 o'clock, the phone rang, 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 at noon tomorrow, at the headquarters of the First Intercontinental Bank."

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