Chapter 702: Strategic acquisition

After receiving the information from Mark Randolph, Ronan quickly browsed it. He didn't know anything about specialized program terminology, but the professional situation will also be reviewed by professionals, so he doesn't need to worry too much about his boss.
　　
"This company has just been established for a year." Mark Randolph added: "The leader of the team is called Andy Rubin. He used to work as a robotics engineer for Carl Zeiss, a well-known optical instrument industry, and was mainly engaged in digital communication networks. After introduction, he joined Apple as a desktop system development engineer. He joined Microsoft in 1997 as a robot communication engineer. He founded Android last year to design a mobile platform that is open to all software developers."
　　
　　 When he heard this, Ronan also saw the name of the company on the profile-Android!
　　
　　Others, he may remember wrong, but this name, this English word is definitely not wrong.
　　
　　 I have switched on and off my phone countless times. Except for the short-used iPhone, this name will be displayed when the system starts up.
　　
　　 translated into Chinese is called Android.
　　
　　 Ronan asked curiously: "How did you find this company?"
　　
Mark Randolph said: "I instructed the Technology Department and the Commercial Investigation Department to collect data from related companies. After Andy Rubin learned about it, he sent me an email and made a phone call. We talked several times. I have also conducted investigations, and the projects they have developed will be of great help to Netflix's future business on mobile smart clients."
　　
　　 Ronan nodded slowly, and can only say that Netflix's Internet professionals and professional team are truly unique.
　　
　　If you think about it, if you don’t have the ability, how can Netflix do it now?
　　
　　 Mark Randolph seemed to be worried that Ronan would veto Android, saying: "Ronan, there are now 700 million mobile phone users worldwide, which is three times that of the traditional computer market. This gap continues to widen and the mobile operating system has a lot to offer."
　　
"The mobile phone market will fully surpass the computer market." Ronan answered, "There is no doubt about this. Mark, I support Netflix's acquisition of this time, but have you considered whether or not, how to promote it? An excellent mobile phone operation The system is not only designed and developed by Android."
　　
　　Mark Randolph obviously has some consideration: "Netflix's mobile client promotion requires communication with mobile phone manufacturers, so that we can establish stable cooperative relations with them, and then cooperate with mobile phone manufacturers..."
　　
Ronan is not very clear about the specifics, but he knows a little bit of general merchandise: "This is far from enough. To become bigger and stronger, you need to unite mobile phone manufacturers, software developers, telecom operators, and even chip manufacturers to form a strong alliance."
　　
　　Mark Randolph just thought about it for a moment and understood.
　　
　　 Ronan continued: "To do this, you need a very powerful Netflix."
　　
　　 Google, which used to be, only achieved this after its own development, and then Android gradually became the mainstream.
　　
　　 "Yes, Netflix is ​​strong is the foundation." Mark Randolph said.
　　
　　 As long as a company is strong enough, it is possible to unite with other companies to form an alliance. Mark Randolph said with a smile: "Ronan, Netflix is ​​about to go public, and I have full confidence in Netflix's future."
　　
　　 Ronan slowly nodded: "Me too. So, Mark, when the head office has finished the procedures, you can do it. Don't worry, Relativity Entertainment is the strongest backing for Netflix."
　　
　　 Mark Randolph is very clear that even if Netflix goes public and raises funds, Relativity Entertainment still has a controlling stake.
　　
　　 Ronan asked, "How about the preparations for listing?"
　　
　　 "The company recommended by Goldman Sachs is very professional." Mark Randolph seemed very confident: "Goldman Sachs also asked many investment companies about their investment intentions, and the results were very satisfactory."
　　
　　 Ronan didn't ask much, and said, "You and Robert Iger control the progress."
　　
　　 Netflix's performance is good enough to attract investors.
　　
　　 Besides, the listing is still after the streaming media business.
　　
　　 After nearly half a year of observation and analysis, Ronan is very clear that the biggest factor restricting the development of Netflix is ​​funding.
　　
　　 With the huge sales of a movie and the income from offline operations and other aspects, Relativity Entertainment has always maintained a relatively abundant cash flow, but Relativity Entertainment also has a series of plans that require a large amount of funds.
　　
　　 Even if you can consider the financing of the Pacific Foundation and bank loans to solve a large part, Relativity Entertainment still needs to maintain ample cash flow.
　　
　　 Therefore, Relativity Entertainment can no longer inject large amounts of money into Netflix, and listing and financing is undoubtedly a more appropriate solution.
　　
　　 If the company grows to a certain extent, it is a shortcut to unite with other capital groups, and it can also provide tremendous help for Netflix's future development.
　　
　　 As a representative of Netflix, after signing a licensing agreement with Disney Pictures, Disney Animation Studios and Miramax, Mark Randolph ended this trip to Los Angeles and returned to the San Francisco area to concentrate on other Netflix affairs.
　　
　　 With the support of Relativity Entertainment, Netflix got enough film sources on this trip to Los Angeles.
　　
　　 More importantly, Netflix's new acquisition plan was approved by Relativity Entertainment.
　　
　　Mark Randolph convened Netflix executives to continue meetings to discuss this, to determine the acquisition plan, and people contacted Andy Rubin, the founder and CEO of Android.
　　
　　 Both parties are Internet practitioners, and they are not unfamiliar with each other's business, and the communication and conversation go on very smoothly.
　　
　　 After talking about the technical and business aspects, their topic fell on the most critical price.
　　
Andy Rubin is not a newcomer in the workplace, he wants to add more bargaining chips for himself: "I emailed many big companies, and Mr. Larry Page from Google responded to me. He has been following Android. And A venture capital company is willing to provide investment in Android..."
　　
Mark Randolph has a faint smile on his face: "They may be interested in investing in Android, but they have to wait until the Android product is completed or almost completed." He said directly: "Netflix acquired Android for 20 million US dollars. After the acquisition is completed, an additional US$8 million will be injected into Android."
　　
　　 Andy Rubin would like to say that Mark Randolph didn't give him a chance at all: "Andy, think about it carefully. There are many companies doing this in Silicon Valley, and Netflix is ​​not the only choice for Android."
　　
　　 Hearing these households, Andy Rubin understood that this is Netflix's condition, either accept it or break it up.
　　
　　 Netflix is ​​already a large company in Silicon Valley, and Android has just started to start a business. If Android wants to continue its development, it needs funding and the support of large companies.
　　
　　 Android requires Netflix, and Netflix does not necessarily require Android.
　　
　　 This offer is not a special project, of course it is not low.
　　
　　 Andy Rubin said, "I need two days to think about it. I will give you an answer before this weekend."
　　
　　 "Yes," Mark Randolph said.
　　
　　 The two shook hands and left.
　　
After the new weekend passed, Ronan watched "The Gang of Sharks" win three consecutive North American titles and reached a cumulative box office of 151.2 million US dollars. He was notified by Mark Randolph that Netflix has reached a preliminary agreement with Android. The agreement will acquire Android for US$20 million.
　　
This is good news, but it won’t make Ronan too excited, because Android has become the former Android, its own strength in development and technology, and an open strategy are part of the reason. Google’s vigorous promotion is behind it. The real key.
　　
　　 If Google ever chose another company, what would be the situation? Is Android still Android?
　　
　　 So, since Mark Randolph mentioned the company Android, just like he did so much work when he just acquired Netflix, he never thought that Android would succeed in the future as a matter of course.
　　
　　 Android still has a long way to go. The advantage of Netflix's acquisition of Android is that it can be one step faster than other companies.
　　
　　 Luo Ann specifically communicated with Mark Randolph again, and let Netflix start with client cooperation and establish contacts with many software developers, mobile phone manufacturers, and chip vendors such as Qualcomm.
　　
　　 Apple does not need to think about it, Steve Jobs will not allow Apple to use operating systems other than his own.
　　
　　 A team of Netflix, with the cooperation of the Pacific Investment Foundation, has made contact with South Korean investors and asked them to act as an intermediary to contact the Samsung Group in South Korea.
　　
　　Mark Randolph also proposed an idea to develop a professional software that can provide entertainment services for future smart terminal users based on Netflix's increasingly powerful platform and based on Android.
　　
　　 The source of this idea is of course for reference, and the object of reference is itunes, the supporting software of Apple's MP3 player IPOD.
　　
　　 Ronan approved the research and development design of this project ~ EbookFREE.me ~ This will be done by Android.
　　
After Netflix signed an acquisition agreement with Android, Ronan made a special trip to San Francisco and chatted with Mark Randolph in Silicon Valley and Andy Rubin, who has served as Deputy Director of Netflix Development and CEO of Android. one day.
　　
　　 In terms of technology, Ronan knows nothing, but he has used too many apps and various Android operating systems.
　　
　　 Once, the frequency of his replacement of smart phones was basically maintained at the rate of one a year.
　　
　　 Android also has a negative impact. Anyone who has a little knowledge of the smartphone industry knows that Android has caused numerous patent lawsuits.
　　
　　 Ronan is not afraid of this, because the appearance of a popular Hollywood movie will also trigger numerous copyright lawsuits.
　　
　　 For example, after the "Pirates of the Caribbean" went viral, at least 20 people or companies sued Ronan and Shahai Entertainment for infringement.
　　
　　 But how much has Android brought to Google?
　　
　　 How much money does Google make through Android? It is difficult to estimate, because Google did not use Android to directly make money, but Android has significantly increased the utilization rate of Google search and services. It is search and services that promote the development of Google's mobile terminal business.
　　
　　If Ronan is asked to say that the success that Android brings to Google is not so much financial as it is strategic.