He had initially estimated that if the 796 experience stores sold 8,000 units on the first day, that would be a great success. However, the actual number was more than double his prediction!
This success directly affected Google's stock price. The market opened that morning with a significant jump and continued to climb, with a level of popularity that was just as hot as the stores themselves.
"It's okay if they're sold out; don't rush to restock. By the way, how are the subsequent Android software and apps coming along? Things like instant messaging tools, reading apps, and payment software," Mavi asked the Google president calmly.
The launch of the first smartphone was only one part of his plan. Besides selling phones, the apps themselves were crucial for the company's long-term profitability. Buying a phone was a one-time purchase, and even if users replaced it every couple of years, the frequency was still too low.
If the company only made a profit from selling phones, it would be a huge mistake. The revenue from a single user's in-app purchases or gaming spending could easily be worth several phones. Being able to take a 30% cut of that profit would be fantastic. This was why Apple was able to surpass Motorola and Nokia to become a trillion-dollar company.
"Chairman Mavi, the development of Android-related software is expected to be available for download or purchase in the Android store within a month," the Google president said respectfully over the phone.
The president, Sergey, and the other executives at the company were already so in awe of their boss's business strategy that they had nothing but admiration and respect for him. They couldn't imagine what went through the chairman's mind every day, as he always came up with such divine, brilliant ideas. It was simply incredible.
"Good. Both the hardware and software for smartphones are essential; you can't have one without the other. Don't make any mistakes," Mavi told Sergey straightforwardly. He had originally planned to hold a launch event for the Google phone. However, he was concerned that revealing his face and identity would make it too easy for people to recognize him in the future, even with a mask and sunglasses. He wouldn't be able to live the life of a mysterious, low-key billionaire.
After considering everything, Mavi decided to skip the product launch for now. He believed that letting the market test the product was the most authentic and effective strategy.
"Understood! Chairman Mavi, you can rest assured that we will get this right!" the Google president guaranteed him over the phone.
Many of his friends had asked him if he regretted selling Google to the Ma V Group for only $600,000. Almost everyone believed that if Sergey had held on to the company, the Ma V Group might not have succeeded.
However, whenever someone asked him that, Sergey would just shake his head and dismiss their idea. He knew that if he had rejected Mavi, his company would have probably been completely surpassed by another search engine created by Mavi.
After all, having worked with Mavi for over two years, Sergey knew how formidable his boss was. He had hardly ever made a wrong decision, and every step he took seemed to be perfectly executed.
---
### The Google Phone Is Sold Out
In just two short weeks, the 796 Google phone experience stores worldwide sold 300,000 units. In contrast, the Nokia 7650, despite the efforts of over 3,000 stores and tens of thousands of distributors globally, only sold just over 90,000 units.
(Mavi's connections in his home country allowed the smartphone to quickly enter the domestic market. Many young professionals and middle-class people felt that owning a Google phone was both fashionable and a great way to show off.)
This disheartening sales comparison was widely reported by major media outlets and websites that followed the phone industry.
Global Times: "The Google company under the Ma V Group is leading a new trend in the global phone market. The newly launched first-generation Google smartphone has received rave reviews and can be considered a product that has revolutionized the mobile phone industry."
People's Daily: "Nokia 7650 sales are in a slump! The new king of phones that the public was looking forward to has been replaced by the Google smartphone. According to experts, the Google smartphone's performance is several times better than Nokia's. The Google phone is now sold out worldwide, and its exclusive experience stores are packed with people."
---
### The Beginning of a New Era
The media coverage of the Google smartphone was everywhere. This was partly due to the influence and media channels of the Ma V Group, but it was also because of the proud people who had bought a Google phone and were constantly showing off its features to their friends and colleagues.
For example, the front-facing camera could be used for selfies. This feature alone opened up a new era of self-portraits for women.
In coffee shops, movie theaters, and fancy restaurants, women with Google phones would often take a selfie to show off, as if to make sure everyone knew they had managed to get their hands on a Google phone.
Besides this phenomenon, some netizens also created a dedicated "Google Phone Forum" for people who had bought the phone or wanted to buy one to share their experiences.
"I'm so annoyed! My friend stayed up all night to get a 4GB Google phone. I bought a spot from a scalper, but by the time it was my turn, they were all sold out! I paid 1,000 yuan for that spot! I was so angry I almost vomited blood. And my friend keeps showing me all the phone's features. Does anyone on this forum have an extra phone? I'll buy it for a high price!"
Where there's demand, there are scalpers, and they do more than just sell spots in line. As soon as this unlucky netizen posted, he received several replies. "Haha, I feel your pain, but the Google phone is now being scalped for 8,800 yuan! The resale price on Taobao changes every few hours!"
"My friend got lucky and bought one when the store first opened. It cost him just over 5,000 yuan, and he felt a little bad about it then. But now that the price has been inflated so much, he feels like he made the right decision."
The Google phone was the talk of the town. People were talking about its inflated price, powerful features, impressive hardware, beautiful design, and the fact that it was hard to get.
However, there was one crucial point that not many people were discussing: the Google phone's Android store would be launching an instant messaging app called WeChat in a week.
Since the software would only be available in the Android store, those who hadn't bought the phone were still in the dark.