The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 48



Only Krnovel

Episode 48 Home Appliance Expo (2)

The Innophone booth wasn’t the only place where there was chaos.

Shouts erupted from the Motorola booth, which was preparing to release a flip phone early next year.

“What happened! “Why did flip phones come out first?”

“We will begin the investigation right away.”

“Immediately find out who the company that manufactured the cell phone, Innophone or something, is. “Steve couldn’t have made that alone!”

“I will move right now.”

Motorola was in emergency mode.

A similar type of mobile phone to the flip phone that was planned to be unveiled at the CES consumer electronics show to be held in the United States early next year has been released.

All personnel at headquarters were mobilized to assess the situation.

The general manager of the mobile phone division at the German Consumer Electronics Fair had to listen to a ridiculous answer.

“Innophone is a mobile phone made jointly by Steve’s NeXT and Taewo Group.”

“Why did Steve join hands with a company on the outskirts of Asia? Moreover, Taewoo Electronics has almost exited the mobile phone business.”

“I didn’t understand until then, but Inno Phone is a mobile phone made by Taewoo Technology Research Institute, not Taewoo Electronics. Even the people at Taewoo Electronics knew very little about InnoPhone.”

“Does that make sense? “How can they make mobile phones without Taewoo Electronics knowing!”

As the general manager’s voice rose, the employee quickly gave the following answer.

“It is said that Taewoo Group’s successor took overall charge of this mobile phone business.”

“heir? It’s not some kind of monarchy, so what’s the successor? That being said, did you find anything to take issue with? There is no way a company like Taewoo Electronics would have just made a flip phone. “Are you sure they planted a spy on our side?”

“That is very unlikely.”

“It doesn’t make sense to create InnoPhone without stealing the technology!”

“Since the beginning of this year, we have applied for a large number of patents related to flip phones. “This is ahead of what we planned.”

Motorola employees were competent.

They found all the patents related to Innophone in one day and brought them back.

“You’ve already applied for all patents?”

“That’s right. Of course, there are parts that can be taken into question, but if that happens, Taewoo Group will have an excuse to take issue with Startech, which is scheduled to be released early next year.”

“Are you saying there is nothing we can do as long as the Taewoo Group holds the patent for the flip phone?”

“Yes, that’s right. “Wouldn’t it be better if we gave up on launching Startech? Otherwise, if we make an issue of it, we will actually suffer losses.”

The general manager was extremely angry.

But he quickly calmed down his excitement. This was possible because he was very proud of the cell phone he made.

“Still, our Startech is a much superior product. “The moment our StarTech launches the Innophone, it will be over.”

“It may actually be fortunate. “InnoPhone can erase the aversion to flip phones.”

“But there’s something I don’t understand. “How can Taewoo Group make a cell phone like InnoPhone?”

“It is said that Steve was in charge of production, including software, and Jonathan, who created Apple’s Message Pad, was in charge of design. Taewoo Group simply rented a factory and produced it.”

“The story is that it was created not by Taewoo Electronics but by talented people who came from Apple. Then you will understand.”

Apple still maintains a higher name value than Taewoo Electronics.

“Why not take this opportunity to recruit Steve and Jonathan to our team?”

“Is that necessary? They say they created Innophone, but they are already outdated. “Miracles don’t happen in succession.”

“Then what about Innophone?”

“There are now four months left until Startech is released. “Let’s have some fun in the meantime.”

The general manager of Motorola’s mobile phone division tried to erase Innophone from his mind.

And I was confident that as time passed, InoPhone would be erased from everyone’s minds.

Startech, which is much better than Innophone, will be released soon.

However, contrary to his thoughts, Innophone’s response was very enthusiastic.

Not only did it become the star of the German Home Appliance Fair, but news, newspapers, and magazines also cheered the appearance of Innophone.

* * *

The German Home Appliance Fair has ended.

Although it was a short period of time, less than a week, we all fainted because we had to meet so many people.

I did the same, and Steve also leaned back on the sofa and relaxed.

“Thank you for your hard work. “Thanks to Steve’s initiative, the response was much better than I expected.”

“It’s natural. However, it is meaningful to continue this response at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in January next year.”

“Of course, I have to hit consecutive home runs. One home run may be a coincidence, but who would think hitting a home run in succession is a coincidence? “Of course Apple’s board of directors thinks so, right?”

“If I get the same response at CES, it sounds like I might be able to return to Apple.”

It was Steve who really wanted to return to Apple.

It must be even more sad that the company he created is ruined.

“Of course you have to come back. “I will make sure I can return no matter what happens.”

“Let me trust your confidence. But will there be any problems with product production? “I heard that a lot of buyers came to visit.”

“It seems that supply will be insufficient compared to demand. But you don’t need to worry. “Wouldn’t the value of Innophone increase as customers want the product more?”

“Is that also a strategy to prepare for CES next year?”

“Not necessarily, but at least you won’t lose anything.”

“Well, I guess you can take care of it. “I will now return to the U.S. and start working on software for the product that will be showcased at CES.”

As expected, I am a workaholic.

The person who had the busiest time all week was Steve.

Nevertheless, without resting even for a moment, I was thinking about returning to the United States and starting work.

“There’s still some time until CES, so please go on a trip.”

“… … “Can I honestly tell you how I feel right now?”

“It’s a little scary that you suddenly became so serious.”

“I feel like a fraud now. “It was said loudly at the product briefing that it was an innovative product, but in fact, Innophone is not an innovation, but rather a product that improves performance by patching together existing products.”

What Steve said was not wrong.

It was a product closer to a change of idea rather than an innovation.

However, in terms of design alone, it was significantly different from existing products and contained many features that were not found in existing mobile phones.

“If you’re saying this because you’re worried about Innophone’s sales volume, don’t worry. “There are already a significant number of pre-orders, and this is a phone that will never be called a failure.”

“I agree that the InnoPhone is a very good phone. However, it is not a product ahead of its time; it is simply an outstanding mobile phone for its time.”

“You are saying that new technology has not been applied.”

“I also know that the products that will be exhibited at CES next year will not have such innovation. So, if you don’t want to be criticized at CES, you need to pay a little more attention.”

This time too, he was right.

The next version of the phone was a slide phone and did not include any innovative features.

However, this did not mean that its performance was inferior compared to other mobile phones.

Rather, it was a product that added many features that were not found in other mobile phones.

Just because it has a lot of features doesn’t mean it’s innovative.

The word “innovation” could be added only when technology that would lead the times was incorporated.

“I’ll be honest with you too. It will not be a revolutionary product until the next version of the product. However, the products created from the time Steve returns to Apple will be products worthy of the word innovation.”

“I know that too. So, I am even deceiving myself by doing this.”

“We will try to bring that date forward as much as possible.”

“All I can say is that I trust you. “I believe it.”

Steve patted me on the shoulder and left the hotel.

Even though his back was gone, it still felt heavy as if his hand was on my shoulder.

* * *

After the German Home Appliance Fair ended, I returned to Korea.

I headed to the group headquarters to report on my performance, and my grandfather called a CEO meeting to coincide with the day I returned.

When I arrived at the headquarters, the presidents of affiliates were already gathered in the conference room.

As I sat down, the chief secretary immediately began conducting the meeting.

“We will take the time to report on the results of the German Home Appliance Fair. “Please start by looking at Director Kim Min-jae first.”

“Our technology lab introduced a flip phone, a foldable mobile phone, at the German Home Appliance Fair under the name InnoPhone. It was selected as the ‘Best Product’ by the Home Appliance Expo Steering Committee, and nearly 200,000 pre-orders were secured during the expo period.”

It was a tremendous achievement that cannot be expressed in words.

‘Best product’ literally meant certification that it was the best product among the products exhibited at the expo.

The pre-order of 200,000 units was an unprecedented order volume in the history of Taewoo Electronics.

Not even Taewoo Electronics, but even Samjin Electronics, has never received this amount of advance orders yet.

“That’s great. “It was a much-needed achievement for Taewoo Group, a leader in globalization.”

“thank you.”

My grandfather was full of praise.

However, Park Jin-hoon, CEO of Taewoo Electronics, wanted to catch the pod somehow.

“It is a great achievement, but it leaves a lot to be desired. InnoPhone is not a product produced by Taewoo Electronics, but is known as a mobile phone made by Steve of Next. “It is difficult to find Taewoo Electronics’ name in news, newspapers, or magazines.”

“Sales of Innophone will be handled by the Taewoo Electronics store, so of course all customers who purchase the product will know that Innophone is a Taewoo Electronics product.”

Taewoo Electronics had stores all over the world.

There are thousands of Taewoo Electronics home appliance stores in the U.S. and Europe.

If you include the home appliance sales stores that have formed partnerships with Taewo Group, the number exceeds 10,000 units.

“And there is more to the problem. “Too much money is spent on software usage fees and various royalties.”

“The same applies to Taewoo Electronics’ home appliances. And even if technology fees and royalties are incurred, a higher operating profit margin can be achieved than that of home appliances. “At least 10% of sales will be ours.”

It was a home appliance with an operating profit margin that was less than single digits.

On the other hand, mobile phones were able to see an operating profit margin of at least twice that.

Asking this question was like spitting in President Park Jin-hoon’s own face.

“Everyone be quiet. This is not a place where we gather to fight. “This is a place to report on work, so don’t raise your voice.”

“sorry.”

The technical lab’s reporting time has ended.

Soon Taewoo Electronics’ work reporting time began, and I started biting as if I had been waiting.

“I was really embarrassed. Samjin Electronics, CL Electronics, and Japanese electronics companies have all released products boasting new technologies. On the other hand, Taewoo Electronics’ products only emphasized sturdiness and were covered in outdated technology.”

“Director Kim, you speak harshly.”

“Did I say something wrong? The technology lab’s mobile phone booth was overflowing with people, but Taewoo Electronics’ booth was extremely quiet. What on earth did you do with all the research funds? “You should have created a product that was more innovative and ahead of its time.”

I openly bitten President Park Jin-hoon.

As a young person, I was likely to be called rude if I was aggressive.

So, I had tolerated it as much as I could until now, but since I had achieved the result of InnoPhone, there was no reason to endure it any longer.