Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 140 The Birth of Orange 1Q

Orange Technology.

Inside Chen Mo's general manager's office, the floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of the bustling city skyline, yet a sense of oppression permeated the interior.

He leaned back in the large leather chair, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the mahogany tabletop, but his gaze was fixed on the computer screen on the side of the desk.

The video playing on the screen is from Youku.com—the latest episode of a channel called "Wang Gehu Review".

In the video, a young man wearing black-rimmed glasses, speaking quickly but clearly, is talking eloquently to the camera.

This is Wang Gehu, who was later awakened by Luo Chuizi's criticism and became known as "Geli Zhihu".

At this time, he had just resigned from his internship in Hong Kong and returned to Shenzhen. He had not long since devoted himself to the evaluation business, and his face still carried the sharpness of a newborn calf. His evaluation style was also labeled as "sincere and pure", and he had already become well-known in the technology circle.

The soft censorship of Orange by mainstream domestic media has led to only these "self-media" outlets taking the risk of mentioning Orange phones due to the taboo nature of the topic.

Orange1 has now almost "disappeared" from mainstream print media and major portal websites in China, as if it never existed.

Those media outlets that received money or adhered to some kind of "correct" ideology tacitly erased this "outlier"—which had squeezed its sales into the top ten of domestic smartphones—from the public eye in China.

Wang Gehu's video, ironically, became a rare opportunity for Orange1 to "show its face" in the public sphere.

The video title is catchy: "October's Smartphone Battle! Which is the Real Deal? Which is a Waste of Money? In-Depth Review of the Top 10 Best-Selling Phones!"

Chen Mo dragged the progress bar and jumped directly to the Orange 1 section.

"Fifth place, Orange 1! Monthly sales of over 130 million, to be honest, this number surprised me a bit, and it was also a pleasant surprise."

Wang Gehu picked up an Orange 1 and gave a fairly fair review.

"Let's start with the advantages; the biggest highlight, without a doubt, is this!"

He pointed to the logo on the back of the phone:

"It's not the logo that looks good, it's the charging technology that comes with it!"
Gaseous lithium battery!

Fully healed in 30 seconds – this experience is absolutely revolutionary!
And then there's Orange OS. Although it's based on Android with a different skin, the UI design is simple and smooth, the unique interaction logic is very comfortable, and the localization is quite good. It's a pleasant surprise.

Considering the price of 499, I'd give it +10 points for value for money!

Chen Mo nodded slightly; this kid was fairly objective.

"However," Wang Gehu changed the subject, "the shortcomings are also quite obvious!"

"First of all, the display effect of this 3.5-inch small-factory capacitive screen is far inferior to that of Apple Retina, HYC AMOLED, and Sanjing Super Screen. The pixelation is quite heavy, and the viewing angle is also average."

Secondly, it uses a modified version of the HIS K3V1 chip. Well, the performance is only adequate. When playing large games or switching between multiple tasks, it struggles and the system may even kill background processes.

I deduct 4 points for the shortcomings in screen and chip.

Overall, with a score of 85, ranking fifth is well-deserved.

In short: lightning-fast charging, average screen, barely adequate chip, surprisingly good system, and a really attractive price!

If you don't have high demands for a top-notch screen and performance, are a heavy phone user, and hate battery anxiety, then this is a very practical choice!

The screen switched to a sales ranking list compiled by Wang Gehu, complete with sales and rating data:

October 2010 Domestic Smartphone Sales and Rating Rankings – Wang Gehu Review

TOP 1 - Pingguo 4
Sales: 800,000+ (4th globally in Q3, with high popularity in the Chinese-speaking region)

Rating: 98 points (Main points deducted: Retina screen +10, signal strength and battery life -2)

TOP 2——HYC one 1
Sales: 175 million+ (First batch of AMOLED screen models, best-selling product in the Android camp)

Score: 92 points (Main points deducted: Sense UI +10, subsequent batches of domestic LCD screens with reduced specifications -8)

TOP 3 – Tri-Crystal Galaxy S (i9000)

Sales: 170 million+ (4-inch Super AMOLED screen, a global bestseller)

Rating: 90 points (Main points deducted: Screen quality +8, Pentile sort -2)

TOP 4 – Fantasy Music Machine 3 GT100
Sales: 168 million units (Configuration: 3.7-inch AMOLED + 1GHz high-performance processor, Yudong customized domestic flagship)

Rating: 88 points (Main points deducted: Localized UI +8, System version -2)

TOP 5 - Orange 1
Sales: 130 million+ (3.5-inch small-factory screen + domestic chip + gaseous lithium battery)

Rating: 85 points (Main points deducted: value for money +10, screen, chip -4)

TOP 6 - Chrysanthemum U8800
Sales: 189 million units (3.8-inch screen + Android 2.1)

Rating: 82 points (Main points deducted: value for money +5, plastic body -2)

TOP 7 – Zhongxing V880
Sales: 176 million units (customized by Connect, WVGA screen)
Rating: 81 points (Main points deducted: screen +4, performance -6)

TOP 8 - Green Machine X8
Sales: 120 million+ (2000mAh battery + high-capacity Snapdragon chip)
Rating: 80 points (Main points added or subtracted: Battery life +4, Compatibility -6)

TOP 9 - Coolpix N930
Sales: 255 million+ (metal body + Android 2.1, custom models from Yudong and Liantong)

Rating: 79 points (Main points deducted: Build quality +7, System lag -6)

TOP 10 - DVID1
Sales: 102 million+ (4.2-inch large screen + ultra-thin design)
Rating: 78 points (Main points deducted: market positioning -5, appearance +3)

Chen Mo looked at the Orange 1 phone, ranked fifth, and its relatively fair score of 85, and felt a bit complicated.

Wang Gehu hasn't been paid by the manufacturer yet, so this evaluation is a fairly accurate reflection of Orange 1's market positioning and its strengths and weaknesses.

Although he felt that the Orange 1 had achieved its best within the limited budget, the hardware gap was indeed undeniable.

At the end of the video, Wang Gehu didn't forget to make a sarcastic remark about "the shame of smartphones".

"As for why 'Nietzsche 1,' which has seen explosive sales and is advertised everywhere on TV shopping channels, didn't make the list?"

Wang Gehu shrugged, giving a "you know what I mean" look: "Resistive screens really can't really be considered 'smartphones,' guys! That concludes our review of the top 10 smartphones this time!"

Chen Mo chuckled softly and minimized the video window.

Nietzsche isn't considered a smartphone?
It's coming soon. When the Orange 2 comes out next year, the Nietzsche 2, a true "smartphone," should also make its debut.

He casually flipped through several mainstream domestic technology and mobile phone newspapers on the table, and as expected, there was still no coverage of Orange.

Interestingly, several newspapers' technology sections have all started to report extensively on "gaseous lithium battery technology," but the focus is on the fact that the technology has been commercialized in North America!
"It is reported that an accessory product called 'Apple Companion' has recently appeared in the North American market. Its core innovation lies in the application of gaseous lithium battery technology, which solves the problem of battery life in smartphones."
This marks the official entry of Western gaseous lithium battery technology into the commercial maturity stage.
This raises the question: why did the earliest research on gaseous lithium battery technology appear in laboratories in China, but North America was the first to achieve large-scale commercial application?

Is it that our industrialization capabilities are insufficient, or that there are obstacles in the environment for technology transfer? Or is it our...

Chen Mo rolled his eyes at the sight.

These Southern media outlets, which have long received funding from the Engieou organization and tout their "openness," are masters of double standards.

The moment there's the slightest hint of trouble in the US, they immediately cheer and sing praises, while ignoring any technological breakthroughs they've made or offering sarcastic skepticism.

One can't help but ask, why weren't we the first to commercialize it?

Yuan Cheng: You're just lying through your teeth. What the hell am I for?

These open media outlets don't need to conduct investigations; they just talk a thousand things and output the final answer, ultimately concluding that the system is flawed.

Since the 08 financial crisis, the U.S. dollar has risen strongly, and the U.S. and China have briefly entered a rare "honeymoon period of remarriage." I am short of money and you are short of goods. I export deflation and you export inflation. The high-glucose U.S. meets the low-blood pressure China. Financial capital and manufacturing each get what they need.

You build your financial empire, I'll build my industrial Cthulhu. At this point, the old Chinese and the old Americans complement each other, forming a perfect match, and their relationship is quite good.

When the US was reaping global profits from the global financial tide, it didn't forget to bring along some old-fashioned countries, feeding them a few mines and factories to make up for the last remaining gaps in the full range of industrial sectors.

In return for the favor, Lao Zhong bought a lot of debts in those years, becoming its largest creditor.

Now that these Southern media outlets can openly receive funding, their biases have naturally become even more pronounced.

"Commercialization in North America? Like power banks?"

Chen Mo caught the key information, and a flash of inspiration struck him: "That's right! Orange also has gaseous lithium battery technology, so why can't they make power banks? With the advent of smartphones, this is a new market worth over 10 billion yuan every year!"

Just then, there was a knock on the office door.

"Enter!"

Wang Kai pushed open the door and entered, holding a folder in his hand, his expression calm.

He had just come from the market research team's workstation. At the honeycomb circular workstation, his "cousin" Xiao Quan, who secretly played with his Q-version Jinyiwei fruit-shaped figurine, was rushing to finish her homework with a bitter face, as she was going back to work tomorrow.

"Mr. Chen, we have limited manpower and are still trying to find out the specific situation in North America, but we have basically figured out the origin of 'Pingguo Companion'."

Wang Kai placed the folder on Chen Mo's desk.

"Oh? Tell me about it!" Chen Mo became interested.

"Watch a video first, and you'll get the gist of it!"

Wang Kai walked to the computer, skillfully entered the URL of a niche video website at the time—Bilibili—and searched for the homepage of a content creator named "Zhong Chenjiang".

The most eye-catching video title on the homepage is: "Can't afford the 599 yuan Apple Companion? I'll buy it!"

"Zhong Chenjiang?"

Chen Mo hesitated for a moment. He didn't seem to know this content creator in his previous life, but he still clicked on the video. The video was full of grassroots vibes and geek spirit from the very beginning.

The background noise is the cacophony of vendors hawking their wares at the North China Electronics Market. The camera shakes as a young man in overalls, exuding a tech geek vibe, holds up a thick phone case with the words "Pingguo Companion" printed on the outer packaging.

He shouted into the camera: "Ladies and gentlemen! 599? Today, the content creator will get it for 100 yuan!"

Next is a fast-paced cut of the Apple Companion: 30-second countdown → charging the "companion" with a mini-B cable → turning on the Apple 4 with zero battery → triggering emergency charging → starting the movie → time speeding up wildly → turning off the Apple 4 3 hours later.

Zhong Chenjiang slammed her hand on the table: "See that? Signal boost + battery life! But 599? Ha, this is just a dumping ground for vendors to fleece them!"

Then comes the violent dismantling phase.

A plastic knife was used to pry open the outer shell of the "Apple Companion" to reveal its internal structure.

Zhong Chenjiang deliberately feigned shock as she looked at the disassembled parts: "Holy crap! There's actually an Orange 1 phone inside!"

The camera zoomed in on the inside of the phone after the back cover was removed, and he pointed to the black battery.

"This is a real high-tech battery, would a knock-off factory dare to use it? Orange Phone got a lot of flak last month, but they actually do have some real talent!"

The second half of the video contains a detailed tutorial on how to make your own:
The core is to disassemble a gaseous lithium battery from Orange 1 (estimated cost 50-60).

Adding an 8-yuan OTG chip (CH376S) allows the Apple 4 to "recognize a father".
Then, use a segment LCD screen that costs 5 yuan, with gray background and black text, to replace the original colorful capacitive screen for voltage display.

Finally, hot melt adhesive was used to fix the double-layer PCB and the plastic shell, reducing the volume by half and creating an "invisible armor" effect.

Final test: 3G signal at full strength, battery life for 3 hours after blood transfusion!

The content creator, Zhong Chenjiang, weighed her homemade product in her hand and gave it a thumbs up.

"A budget-friendly alternative, amazing! Money-saving secret: Orange 1 battery + Huabei Strong accessories = affordable Apple Companion."

The video is full of exaggerated contrasts, violent disassembly, and corny technical jokes, but it perfectly captures the essence of "imperfect but good enough".

Chen Mo's eyes lit up after reading it.

"This content creator is really something; they're very creative and have great hands-on skills!"

Then, he suddenly realized and looked at Wang Kai in surprise to confirm: "You mean that the 'Apple Companion' that sells for $99 in North America originated from those stall vendors in North China?"

"Yes, Mr. Chen!"

Wang Kai nodded and handed the investigation report to Chen Mo.

"To be more precise, a large portion of the distributors who obtained our 'phone case structure patent' authorization were the ones who orchestrated this behind the scenes."

"They capitalized on the public outcry surrounding the Apple 4's 'death grip' and insufficient battery life in North America, combined it with the phone case structure we licensed to address the signal issue, and added the Orange 1 to solve the battery life problem, assembling this 'Apple Companion'."

Afterwards, they were sold to North America through backpackers and long-haul shipping, increasing profits several times over.

Chen Mo's first reaction was not to be implicated and receive a lawyer's letter, but to slam his fist on the table.

"Damn! These vendors are really daring! An Orange 1 only costs 370 yuan through strong channels in North China, and the shell costs at most 20 yuan. They dare to sell it for 99 US dollars? This is outrageous!"

Chen Mo was frustrated because he hadn't earned a single penny and had been blamed for something, but at the same time, a new idea about a "phone charging bank" was growing wildly in his mind.

Why should only the vendors at the stalls in North China earn this money?

It just so happens that the Orange 1 is going to be discontinued in November. I'm going to make an Orange 1 Youth Edition screen power bank (Orange 1Q) to fill the production capacity of Nietzsche's OEM factory. This is a very promising idea.

Anyway, this is a cutting-edge mobile phone R&D system, not a cutting-edge smartphone R&D system. A phone with call functionality is still a mobile phone, so it can still be considered a R&D point, right?

However, the most urgent task is still to send a lawyer's letter to Pingguo!
Chen Mo suppressed his turbulent emotions, his eyes sharpening.

"Now that we know the ins and outs of the 'Pingguo Couple,' we know how to deal with it. Go and call Lin Junfeng over!"

Lin Junfeng, the legal vice president of Orange Technology, arrived quickly.

Chen Mo briefly explained the background of the "Pingguo Partner" incident, and to help him understand, he also showed him Zhong Chenjiang's video.

Lin Junfeng pushed up his frameless glasses and fell into deep thought.

Chen Mo didn't disturb him. He got up and walked to the huge aquarium in the corner of the office, picked up the fish food, and absentmindedly fed the fish.

The golden tang in the tank, gleaming in the slanting sunlight, seems to have grown a little bigger again.
Or is it just his imagination?
Every time I talk to Gong Yun about it, she laughs and says she can't tell.

"Mr. Chen, I have a plan!"

Lin Junfeng's voice broke the silence.

He walked to the sofa in the reception area, and Chen Mo turned around and poured him a glass of water.

"Tell me!"

"My strategy is to 'use force to promote peace, and adopt a multi-pronged approach'!"

Lin Junfeng's eyes gleamed with the shrewdness unique to legal elites.

"The first battlefield, home advantage, Takihawa District Court!"
We will immediately sue Pingguo Asia Pacific Company for spreading rumors, slander, and commercial defamation!
What we licensed to our strong partner in North China was the 'phone case structure patent,' not the shape patent of the Apple phone at all.

The infringers are those partners who assembled and branded their products as "Pingguo Companion" without authorization. Pingguo's lawsuit against Orange Technology for infringement is utter nonsense!

We can demand they publish an apology and pay a symbolic 1 yuan in damages for defamation, thus gaining the upper hand in public opinion and legal terms!

"The second battleground, a neutral away game that can be won, is the Mannheim courthouse in Oregon!"

Lin Junfeng spoke faster.

"Our 'phone case structure patent' has been internationally recognized through the PCT route!"
To address the "death grip" issue, Pingguo has recently released its own official phone case in Ouzhou.

I've studied it, and their shell structure likely borrows from the core elements of our patent!
We can partner with a well-known local law firm in Mannheim to sue Apple's official phone case for infringing on our structural patent, demanding a sales ban and compensation!
The Mannheim courts are quick to process mobile phone patent cases, with preliminary results usually available in about three months, and their judgments are widely accepted throughout the state of Oregon.

If we win the case, we can even apply for a ban on the sale of Apple 4 phone cases throughout Oregon!
"Mr. Chen, as you know, North America just acquired Alstom and Siemens, and the major countries in Europe don't have a very good impression of Apple right now. This is our opportunity!"

"The third front, North America, an away game, will be fought to force a draw!"

Lin Junfeng finally unleashed his trump card.

“In North America, we are currently at a disadvantage.”

But we can try diplomacy first and then take the initiative to talk to Pingguo!

The core demand is to achieve cross-licensing of patents: they authorize us to use the shape and interface-related patents of Apple mobile phones, and we authorize them to use the structural patents of our mobile phone cases, screen protectors, stands and other accessories.

This is beneficial to both parties: Pingguo can solve the parts supply problem, and we can obtain legal authorization for "Pingguo Companion".

"Of course, if Pingguo is stubborn and insists on fighting?" A cold glint flashed in Lin Junfeng's eyes: "Then we'll use the 'Nuclear Five Weapons'!"

"We can license our structural patents for mobile phone accessory cases, screen protectors, and stands in North America to Google or Microsoft at extremely low prices or even symbolic fees!"
Think about it, Google's Android camp is locked in fierce competition with Apple's iOS, and Microsoft has always wanted a piece of the mobile pie.

What will they do if they obtain these patents that can directly strangle Apple and damage its component ecosystem?
They'll definitely go all out in their copyright infringement lawsuit against Apple, making sure Apple's backyard in North America is ablaze. I have some old connections in Google's legal department, so it'll be easy for me to make the connection.

After listening, Chen Mo couldn't help but clap his hands and cheer.

"Excellent! What a brilliant strategy of 'using force to promote peace, employing multiple approaches'!"

"Brother Lin, your counterattack plan is very thorough. It's meant to let Pingguo know that we at Orange are not pushovers. Anyone who tries to step on us should be prepared to get their hands on a pile of bumps!"

He stood up, walked to the window, looked down at the bustling traffic below, and his tone turned somber.

"However, it's better to resolve conflicts than to create them. We already have enough enemies in China, including those traditional feature phone manufacturers who are keeping an eye on us."

Let's try diplomacy with Pingguo first, then resort to force!
"Brother Lin, you should first represent the company and formally communicate with the person in charge of Pingguo Asia Pacific, presenting the facts and reasoning, expressing our sincerity in seeking reconciliation and a win-win situation."

“Show them Zhong Chenjiang’s video too, so they know what ‘Pingguo Companion’ is all about and won’t be misled by those vendors and blame us.”

Chen Mo turned around, his eyes resolute.

"But we also need to make them understand that we don't cause trouble, but we're not afraid of trouble either. If Pingguo really thinks that we Oranges are easy to bully and wants to take this opportunity to teach us a lesson or even strangle us, then let them try!"
We survived the darkest hour of September; taking on Pingguo now is just another tough battle ahead!

Lin Junfeng nodded solemnly: "Understood, President Chen! I will draft a formal letter right away to meet with the head of Pingguo's Asia-Pacific region!"

Watching Lin Junfeng's retreating figure, Chen Mo's gaze returned to the paused Zhong Chenjiang video on the computer screen, as well as the minimized Wang Gehu evaluation report.

A plan about "phone charging power banks" gradually took shape in his mind.

A crisis can sometimes be an opportunity.

With the Orange 1 phone production halted in November and the Orange 2 phone mass production scheduled for May next year, the company is not going to just sit idly by. That's impossible, right?
Therefore, based on the standard 7-9 month sales lifecycle of smartphones, a manufacturer must release at least two smartphones each year to ensure that the company has products to sell throughout the year.

This is something Chen Mo only recently discovered. After all, he failed to develop his mobile phone business in his previous life, and in this life, when Orange Technology was developing, he encountered every possible pitfall.

Through the "Pingguo Partner" incident, Chen Mo has a clue what oranges should sell in the second half of the year.

Orange1Q, a power bank that can make phone calls.

The most important thing right now is to call Zhao Tiezhu back from the mountain city.

Chen Mo knew in his heart that he felt more at ease with this kid by his side, as his execution ability was exceptionally strong.

For tasks like the research and development and mass production of Orange 1Q, which require speed and efficiency, he is indispensable.

(End of this chapter)