Fervent Followers (Esquires)
The next day after the fervent followers (Esquires). Yoo Jae-won sat in front of the computer until lunchtime, overseeing the work for the next patch of Android 1.0. The policy of releasing a patch for Android 1.0 every 100 days remained firmly in place. Patches fixed operating system bugs and added new features, but their primary purpose was to refresh the advertisements. Even with Android 1.0, the original intent had not changed in the slightest. The first patch was scheduled for distribution on November 22, exactly 100 days after the release, and only one day remained. The first patch was already complete and ready for deployment. All that was left was sending the patch files online to retailers worldwide.
All twenty-four advertising slots had sold out to international corporations at premium prices, and the features that would make Android 1.0 even more polished were solidly integrated. Installing the first patch would enhance the file manager, support a wider range of multimedia formats, and improve security. Most notably, the advertising functionality underwent a revolutionary change. Previously, ads would slide up from the bottom-right corner every hour and disappear. Clicking them displayed either a large advertisement image or a document file created by the advertiser. Some companies produced well-designed images, while others simply filled pages with text.
After this patch, everything would change. The ads would now use HTML. Clicking an advertisement in the corner on a patched computer would launch a web browser and open an HTML document created by the advertiser. Fragmented images or text-heavy documents would evolve into unified hypertext. If the computer was connected to the internet, users could even visit pages built by the advertising companies. Compared to previous images or documents, HTML offered vastly superior information volume and accessibility. Advertisers recognized this and purchased slots at higher prices. When Android 1.0 first launched, each slot cost $500,000. The ads included in this patch commanded at least $600,000 each. With twenty-four slots, the total revenue from this patch reached $14.4 million—an enormous sum. As a result, Android 1.0's advertising revenue for the year hit $26 million. In 1991, no other IT company generated that much profit from advertising alone. ID Technology stood unique in that regard. Furthermore, the online advertising market was poised for explosive growth, and the shift from millions to hundreds of millions would happen in an instant.
Yet for now, revenue from legitimate product sales still exceeded advertising income. To date, the total number of Android 1.0 installations on complete computers worldwide had surpassed five million. Although supplied at the remarkably low price of ten dollars per unit, the sheer volume of computers sold globally generated $50 million in revenue. Android 1.0 alone brought ID Technology's 1991 sales to $76 million. Yoo Jae-won found the figure sufficiently satisfying, though some executives and senior managers felt it fell short. They were fixated on the symbolic milestone of $100 million, which now seemed within reach. Consequently, voices grew louder suggesting an increase in the supply price of Android 1.0 to major computer manufacturers next year.
After all, even MS-DOS—an operating system embarrassingly inferior to Android 1.0—sold for at least sixty dollars after maximum discounts, with a list price of $120. It was an outrageous pricing strategy, yet computer manufacturers eagerly adopted MS-DOS. The reason was simple: they passed the operating system cost directly to consumers, so they bore no burden themselves. This was precisely what ID Technology's executives pointed out. Currently, the company supplied the system at one-twelfth the price of Microsoft. Therefore, computer prices should drop by roughly $100. However, computer prices remained high. Countless models kept the same price despite switching operating systems. Manufacturers pocketed the savings from cheaper operating system supply costs rather than passing them on to customers. Yoo Jae-won was also deeply contemplating this issue.
Of course, he had no intention of keeping the Android operating system price fixed at ten dollars forever. He planned to adjust it according to inflation. Yet after listening to his executives' analysis, he realized even a higher increase would pose no problem. The exact rate of increase was an issue for later; it was not his immediate concern. Something else currently occupied his thoughts.
"Should I include internet server functionality in the patch as well?"
1992 would undoubtedly be the year of the internet. Yoo Jae-won's interventions had accelerated internet adoption by at least a year compared to the original timeline. The same held true for both the United States and Korea. In fact, when limited to internet alone, Korea was advancing even faster. This was because Korea planned to launch ADSL pilot services through NextCom and Korea Telecom starting next year. Henry Samuel's ADSL modem and the supporting DSLAM equipment were already in production through Korean small and medium-sized enterprises. Naturally, Bellcore, which held the rights to ADSL technology, had purchased the entire suite of related technologies and was producing them via OEM. The situation in the United States remained undecided. Efforts were underway to acquire a cable broadcasting company that could cover at least the California region, but no suitable target had emerged yet.
Regardless, the internet, which began in 1991, was poised for explosive growth in 1992. Naturally, many companies and individuals wanted to operate internet servers. In preparation, the Android division in Redmond was diligently developing server programs. The tentatively named Android Web Service would allow even ordinary PCs to host simple WWW or FTP servers. The problem was that the program was too specialized and too large for inclusion in a patch. It also incorporated numerous new technologies. For instance, it supported two or more CPUs and could manage large amounts of memory and databases.
"Ultimately, the file size is the real issue."
A patch typically fit on one or two 3.5-inch floppy disks, but Android Web Service alone required three. Packing in every new technology had caused this bloat, yet removing any single feature would compromise quality. Moreover, ID Technology's strategy from the outset had been to deliver overwhelming completeness that competitors could not hope to match. Therefore, releasing a retail product inferior to the prototype was absolutely unacceptable.
"Well, the answer is simple then."
Yoo Jae-won's decision was to launch it as a separate product. Only those who wanted to run a web server would purchase it. While giving it away for free would aid internet adoption, it would not benefit the company's finances. Once people saw that the internet could generate revenue, voluntary participation would increase naturally, so distribution was not a concern. However, if the price were set too high, competitors might appear with similar products at lower prices. Yet Yoo Jae-won's strategy relied on crushing competitors through superior completeness. He was confident that any enterprise seeking a proper server program would naturally choose ID Technology.
"Then we'll charge $120 per package and add 50 percent for each additional CPU."
Current PCs typically contained a single CPU on the motherboard. Server computers were different. They housed two or more CPUs, and pricing software according to the number of CPUs was a long-established policy. IBM was the prime example. Even the mainframe introduced for NextCom service physically contained eight CPUs. IBM charged for its mainframe operating system based on the number of CPUs. Mainframe operating systems were already expensive, but multiplying the price by the CPU count made them cost more than most sports cars. Compared to IBM, Yoo Jae-won was being extremely conscientious.
"Then for the March 1 patch next year, we'll add multi-core support and Glide X2. Ah, and video codecs and the next-generation image format as well."
With the decision to release Android Web Service as a separate product, the direction for the next patch was finalized. Each item was substantial. Though large enough to sell as a paid product like Android Web Service, Yoo Jae-won was generously including them in the operating system to strengthen Android's dominance.
"Mr. Chairman! It's time to depart."
Kim Dae-seok approached Yoo Jae-won, who had been focused at the computer, and informed him of the next schedule. Checking his watch, he saw it was nearly 1 p.m. No wonder he felt hungry. Immersed in work, he had forgotten he needed to eat.
"Have you had lunch?"
"Ah, yes! I ate well. Surely you haven't skipped lunch, Mr. Chairman?"
Kim Dae-seok asked in surprise, as if missing a single meal were life-threatening.
"I had the vegetable bread I bought yesterday. I'll grab a hamburger on the way."
"Goodness, you'll ruin your health that way. You need proper meals made with fresh ingredients."
Kim Dae-seok's nagging intensified. It seemed he had received special instructions from Yoo Jae-won's parents during his vacation. To live long and stay healthy, one must eat well. Yoo Jae-won nodded and rose from his seat. After finishing a nutritionally balanced meal at a restaurant instead of McDonald's, he proceeded to his next schedule: inspecting the mansion prepared as Remington's wedding gift.
Yoo Jae-won had been too busy to visit in person, so Kim Dae-seok had gone in his stead. Comparing Kim Dae-seok's opinion, the real estate company's pamphlet, and data from his Memory Palace, they had selected the best option. Interior design was underway with a professional firm, actively reflecting Remington and Shannon's tastes. Of course, they had not been asked directly. Yoo Jae-won already possessed detailed information about both, so there was no issue.
"This is it."
The drive from Yoo Jae-won's residence to the mansion took less than twenty minutes.
"Oh, this is nice."
The mansion exceeded expectations. They drove through the automatically opening gate and stopped in front of the main building. A neat European-style garden lay before it. Though winter made it less vibrant, it would surely be magnificent when fresh green shoots and leaves emerged in spring. Accompanied by Kim Dae-seok and his bodyguards, Yoo Jae-won examined every detail. While not on the scale of European royal palaces, it rivaled the villas of Hollywood's top stars in size and splendor. The two-story main building featured four bedrooms, five bathrooms, two kitchens, two dining rooms, a movie screening room, a music listening room, and a study. It also included an outdoor tennis court, a swimming pool, and a large garage capable of holding ten full-size vehicles.
Even among San Francisco's wealthy, this was one of the largest mansions, purchased for a relatively modest $6 million. The funds came from Yoo Jae-won's personal pocket, not company money. This was not the end. Since each room had a clear purpose, appropriate electronics and furniture had to be placed accordingly. Naturally, all items were of the highest quality. Finally, the two busy individuals clearly could not manage such a vast house themselves, so mansion management staff had been hired separately. He had considered selecting a butler as well, but that felt too intrusive, so he stopped there. Overall, roughly $10 million had been spent. In dollars, it seemed like an enormous amount, yet in Korean currency it equated to approximately 7.1 billion won. While still a substantial sum, it was comparable to purchasing and remodeling a mansion in Seongbuk-dong, Seoul's most prestigious neighborhood in the twenty-first century. As president of the Technology Division—the core business of ID Group—Yoo Jae-won felt no sense of excess in affording such luxury.
"Now all that's left is to find the right timing to hand over the keys."
He was genuinely curious how Remington and Shannon would react. A few days later, Yoo Jae-won set the date for the gift: November 27, the day before Remington's wedding. He had wanted to give it as early as possible, but after distributing the first Android 1.0 patch on the 22nd, he had been overwhelmed for several days. Though the process required only copying files or downloading and running them online, countless users somehow extracted unimaginable errors from this simple task. Complaining that one of the three patch disks was missing was merely cute. A significant number also protested that the patch would not install due to insufficient hard disk space, completely ignoring the error message that explicitly stated the problem. Beyond that, new compatibility issues arose after the patch. Programs that deviated from standard specifications naturally risked problems, yet instead of contacting the companies that made those programs, users called the Android division.
What kept Yoo Jae-won even busier than the patch was something else entirely.
- We have secured development rights to the Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia!
He received an unexpected report from Vincent Greenhill. Yoo Jae-won had indeed mentioned the lithium mine in the Uyuni Salt Flat to Vincent Greenhill, but he had never given specific instructions on when to acquire it. Currently, the main material for secondary batteries was nickel-cadmium, and lithium-based secondary batteries were still in active research. Mobile products using secondary batteries would not become practical until the twenty-first century, so there was no immediate urgency. Therefore, Yoo Jae-won had planned to time investments in resources like lithium to coincide with technological maturity and the rise of mobile devices. Vincent Greenhill, however, seemed determined to complete any task assigned by Yoo Jae-won. He never dismissed even casual remarks and executed them to the best of his ability. The Bolivia matter was a prime example.
Yoo Jae-won had never once received a report that Vincent Greenhill or ID Investment analysts had traveled to Bolivia. When he inquired how they secured the development rights without visiting, he learned they had utilized local agencies and lobbyists. A small Bolivian mining company acted as ID Investment's agent, and someone close to the current Bolivian president served as the lobbyist. The total cost did not even exceed $600,000. Moreover, the development rights to the Uyuni Salt Flat were exclusive, and the price was only $5 million. There was a clause requiring some profit sharing with Bolivia once lithium production succeeded, but even including that, the price was extraordinarily low. Once again, Yoo Jae-won felt the truth that the best investments were made when no one else was looking.
Yoo Jae-won naturally approved. The importance of lithium was immeasurable. It was essential not only for batteries—the most representative product—but also for high-quality glass. Lithium would be indispensable for manufacturing LCDs, which would soon replace cathode-ray tubes. The only concern was Bolivia's political instability. Bolivia was a country where coups occurred countless times. From independence in 1825 to the twenty-first century, over two hundred coups had taken place. Civilian government rule lasted only forty years; the rest of the period was under military regimes. At least currently, under President Jaime Paz Zamora, it was a civilian government. As a moderate center-left president, he pursued a pragmatic line, which enabled ID Investment to secure the lithium mining rights in the Uyuni Salt Flat. However, his leniency toward drug trafficking—hesitating to eradicate coca leaf cultivation and showing little enthusiasm for dismantling drug organizations—was a flaw. In economically weak Bolivia, drug-related activities had reached the level of a national industry, so he likely thought turning a blind eye to the drug trade was acceptable. It was a grave mistake. More powerful drug cartels than state authority would emerge and plunge Bolivia into chaos.
Thanks to the drug cartels, establishing a local company and deploying ID Group personnel was extremely unappealing. The alternative, as Vincent had done, was to acquire a local mining company and proceed with local personnel from executives to laborers—a method already included in Yoo Jae-won's master plan. Yoo Jae-won instructed them to skip stages like MOUs that could be easily abandoned and instead conclude contracts that would firmly guarantee ownership even if the regime changed. Once signed, he intended to immediately begin mine development so that no one else could claim a share of the Uyuni mine.
While spending the end of November in such a whirlwind, the 28th drew near. Yoo Jae-won immediately arranged a meeting with the Remington couple. It was tomorrow. Though both were busy with the wedding just two days away, they made time at the request of their chairman, Yoo Jae-won. The next day, Yoo Jae-won took them directly north of San Francisco and introduced the mansion.
"This is a wedding gift for the two of you!"
Remington and his secretary-turned-bride Shannon initially could not comprehend Yoo Jae-won's words. Upon stepping out in front of the massive main building and being told it was a gift, they looked around but saw no gift boxes anywhere.
"This house is the gift."
The quick-witted Yoo Jae-won added an explanation. Only then did the two grasp that the enormous mansion was the "gift." They were speechless before its grand and elegant presence. The exterior was finished in solid granite, as if it had been designed with their tastes in mind, while the interior was unified in black, white, and silver tones, with tasteful accent points throughout. The living room visible upon entering through the main gate was open to the second floor, with a magnificent chandelier radiating beautiful light.
Remington returned to reality a step ahead of Shannon.
"Boss, have I ever saved your life?"
It was a question the current Yoo Jae-won could not answer. He wanted to nod and say yes, but that had happened in his previous life. In the end, Yoo Jae-won slowly shook his head.
"Boss, we've been working together since 1988, right? I wondered if there might have been some event I don't remember."
At Remington's words, Yoo Jae-won immediately sensed rejection. He vividly recalled being thoroughly rebuffed the first time he called Remington after regressing. With only voice and call quality, Remington had eerily deduced Yoo Jae-won's identity.
"I've always been grateful since then. At the same time, I experience miracles every day. Who could have predicted that we, who started like children's play, would acquire Microsoft and unify the PC operating system and office software? Moreover, every time we achieved a miracle, I received millions of dollars in compensation. Thanks to that, I bought a house with multiple garages and was able to marry Shannon early. In other words, the compensation has already been sufficient. Such a luxurious mansion is too much for us."
"Yes! That's right. I think so too, Boss! This kind of house is nice for staying a few days, but it's too burdensome to live in for a lifetime."
Shannon nodded vigorously at Remington's words. When preparing the gift, something had felt missing. That was why he had prepared the interior so meticulously, yet now he realized he had not considered the recipients—Remington and Shannon—at all.
"I understand the sentiment behind the Boss's gift. I've known since you created the maternity support policy for Shannon's sake, but this mansion truly seals it. Thanks to this, I'm burning with determination to dedicate my bones to the company!"
At Remington's words, Yoo Jae-won was left speechless. He remembered saying that when creating the maternity policy, there would be no special treatment for specific individuals. Words once spoken could not be taken back, but he could not undo a mansion whose interior was already complete. Nor could he force the gift upon the Remington couple. Yoo Jae-won found himself in a dilemma from every angle. Yet his mood was good. Although he could not hand over the mansion keys packaged in the ordered jewelry box, Remington's response had been deeply moving. His eyes alone burned with sincerity. Yoo Jae-won sincerely wished for their happiness and granted them a two-week vacation so that memories of their honeymoon would be deeply etched. Even Remington, who had declined the mansion, gladly accepted the vacation.
When Yoo Jae-won later looked back on 1991, he would remember it as the year ID Group mass-produced its most devoted followers. On a large scale, Android 1.0 and New Egg PC had instantly captivated countless computer users. On a smaller scale, it was the year when individuals whose support for Yoo Jae-won would never waver, no matter the circumstances, were organized in both Korea and the United States. Of course, among all of Yoo Jae-won's followers, no one disputed that the greatest figure was Remington Sting.