Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 11 The Crown Prince of the Old Era
The current kings of the mobile phone industry are Nokia, HYC, and BlackBerry. Can Apple, a relatively well-known brand, be more powerful than these giants who have failed in the smartphone field?

Everyone is wise after the event, but clueless beforehand.

Who could have imagined that after being ousted from the board, Laubus's return would breathe new life into Apple, not only bringing a new cash cow to the company but also revolutionizing the mobile phone market, making phone calls seem like the most useless function of mobile phones.

In future generations, how many people will still care whether a mobile phone's call function is easy to use?
Chen Mo noticed Zhao Tiezhu's hesitation, pointed to the pile of unremarkable pre-arranged materials, and looked serious.

"Look at the current Orange 1st generation, it's just a regular feature phone. If Apple really starts a smartphone craze after June, it won't be competitive at all."

Chen Mo didn't tell Zhao Tiezhu what came next: if Orange Generation 1 didn't make any changes, it would eventually be ignored, just like in the previous life, and could only be used as scrap to pay off debts, which would benefit Old Wang.

Chen Mo must not allow history to repeat itself, so he must take the initiative to seek change.

Knowing that the original feature phone configuration of the Orange 1st generation was a dead end, Chen Mo was willing to take another gamble and directly use the black technology gaseous lithium battery developed by the system to make the first domestically produced smartphone.

Even if all else fails, with the smartphone market boom brought by Apple, at least the Orange 1st generation can successfully overcome its current difficulties, gain a firm foothold in North China, and fight to the end against peers like Lao Wang who sell electronic waste!

Thinking of Lao Wang, Chen Mo's eyes suddenly lit up, and scenes from his past life flashed through his mind.

When Apple was launched, smartphones were all the rage. Old Wang followed suit and used his Orange Phone's credentials to make a knock-off "Orange 4" smartphone, which sold quite well.

Chen Mo was still resentful after giving Orange Technology to Lao Wang to pay off his debts, and he also paid attention to the configuration of that knock-off "Orange 4" phone.

At that moment, he made a firm decision: since that old bastard is so heartless, then don't blame me for being ruthless. What's wrong with borrowing his "Orange 4" knock-off phone design in advance, so that I won't end up being disgraced by him for the Orange brand?

The most important components of a smartphone are: core hardware, unique parts, interface and interaction, software and network, and additional functions.

The original configuration of the Orange 1st generation was roughly as follows:

1. Core hardware: (Cost controlled within 100 yuan)

The processor is the Lianfa Technology MT6573 chip (single-core 650MHz, 40nm process). Its advantage lies in its strong availability in North China. It supports GSM/WCDMA dual-mode and meets basic call and web browsing needs.

Cost +25 yuan!
The screen is a 3.5-inch TFT resistive screen (480×320 resolution), which is a high-end product from a junk collector in North China. Its touch accuracy is slightly inferior to that of a capacitive screen, but it is more durable and suitable for low-cost models.

Cost +18 yuan!
The memory configuration consists of 256MB DDR2 RAM and 512MB NAND ROM, using refurbished chips sourced from North China and repackaged and tested twice, ensuring smooth operation of Android 2.3.

Cost +22 yuan!
Cost of core components: 25 + 18 + 22 = 65 yuan.

2. Special components: (Cost controlled within 50 yuan)
The phone battery has a capacity of 1200mAh and uses a reputable manufacturer's T-10 lithium battery. The battery and casing are integrated to ensure compatibility with different phone models and guarantee phone safety.

Chen Mo was unable to develop a practical battery before the release of the Orange 1st generation.

To know whether a phone is safe or not, the battery is the key, and he wouldn't dare to skimp on that.

Fortunately, Chen Mo hasn't had time to place an order for batteries yet because of their high cost!

Cost +26 yuan!
Camera – Rear 200-megapixel CMOS lens (with LED flash), front 30-pixel VGA lens, modules available from various electronics markets in Shenzhen, supports 3x digital zoom and 480P video recording.

The combined cost of front and rear cameras is +15 yuan!
特色部件合计成本：26+15=41元    3、结构与交互（成本控制在20以内）

The machine body is made of engineering plastic (120×60×12mm, 135g). It uses a general mold discarded by Dongguang Factory, with only the LOGO injection molded part modified.

The mold cost is 5 yuan, the outer shell injection molding cost is 5 yuan, and the logo transfer cost is 2 yuan.

Cost +12 yuan!
Interaction – A combination of physical keyboard and resistive touch buttons, a unique solution from North China Power, retaining the physical keyboard of the classic T9.

Cost +6 yuan!
Total cost of structure and interaction: 12 + 6 = 18 yuan.

4. Software network (cost controlled within 10)

The system is a reskinned Android 2.3.1 "Orange Lightweight Edition", which removes the Google service framework and includes a built-in customized application market from North China (pre-installed with UX browser, Q2010, games, etc.). The system space usage has been reduced to 150MB.

Cost -3 yuan!
Network – Supports GSM900/1800MHz + WCDMA 2100MHz, with the baseband solution integrating the MT6573 built-in baseband, eliminating the need for additional RF chips, and is compatible with mobile 2G/internet 3G networks, meeting basic network access requirements.

Cost +1 yuan!
Total cost of software and network: -3 + 1 = -2 yuan

5. Additional features (cost controlled within 10 yuan)
Other configuration:

3.5mm headphone jack + mini B-USB 2.0 port (universal accessories, total cost 3 yuan)
Cost +3 yuan!
Single speaker (8Ω/0.5W, cost 2 yuan) + FM radio module (cost 1 yuan)
Cost +3 yuan!
Supports up to 32GB Micro SD card expansion (card slot reserved, cost 1 yuan).
A resistive touch pen with a retractable spring tip and magnetic attachment (for storage on the side of the device).

Cost +2 yuan!
Total cost of additional features: 3 + 3 + 2 = 8 yuan.

原版橙子1代的物料总成本：核心硬件（65元）+特色部件（41元）+结构交互（18元）+软件网络（-2元）+附加功能（8元）=130元

总成本：130元的物料+13元的组装成本（一般是物料成本的10%）+华北强档口分销体系渠道成本30元=173元

The original Orange 1st generation device was priced at 199 yuan!
Chen Mo only intended to earn a 15% gross profit on each original Orange 1 phone, with an actual net profit of no more than 5%.

At that time, mobile phone memory was limited, and the profits from pre-installed apps and advertising revenue were not as high as they would be later. If they had followed the example of Wheat in later years and reduced net profit to 3%, Orange Technology would not have been able to pay rent and Zhao Tiezhu's salary.

Looking at the original Orange 1st generation's configuration alone, it's not much among a bunch of knock-off feature phones from North China. But at a price of 199 yuan, you get an extremely cost-effective feature phone with super long battery life, durability, and the ability to log in to QQ, browse the internet, and play games.

It's worth noting that back then, branded feature phones that could log in to QQ, browse the internet, and play games generally cost over 500 yuan, while even knock-off phones cost between 300 and 400 yuan.

That's right!

If Apple hadn't started the smartphone wave so quickly, Chen Mo might have become the Lei Jun of the feature phone era, and Orange Phone might have had the opportunity to transform into the Xiaomai of the smartphone era, becoming synonymous with extreme cost-effectiveness.

It's a pity! Chen Mo in his past life had no "what ifs." No matter how brilliant your ideas were, if you were born at the wrong time, you would have failed. There were no excuses.

The Orange 1, once synonymous with cost-effectiveness in the old era, now aims to ascend to the throne in the new era of smartphones. It all depends on how Chen Mo drastically modifies its configuration.

(End of this chapter)