Smartphones and Starlink Aviation
Taesik secured a meeting with Mike through Luke at WP Morgan, visiting Apple—which was located not far from Starlink Map—in his capacity as a shareholder holding a 5% stake. Mike, hearing that a shareholder who had never once exercised his voting rights was finally appearing, came out to greet him personally. They sat down together in a conference room.
"So, you’re the shareholder who has never once shown his face. I was curious, as WP Morgan refused to provide any information about you despite my inquiries."
Mike looked at Taesik with his signature cynical expression. Taesik immediately cut to the chase.
"Mike. Apple’s growth with the iPod lately has been quite extraordinary."
"Naturally, sales should increase now that I’ve returned to Apple. But what is the reason for your visit?"
As the question he wanted came up, Taesik brought up the words he remembered from before his regression.
"Mike. How much longer do you intend to spend your time selling cheap products like sugar water? Isn't it time you took the opportunity to change the world?"
Taesik quoted Mike’s own famous words to attack him. Mike’s face flushed red.
"Are you looking at the iPod as a cheap product like sugar water right now?"
Mike growled, showing an aggressive attitude toward Taesik for disparaging the product he had poured his heart and soul into. As Mike’s attention became fully focused on him, Taesik took out his mobile phone and placed it on the desk.
"How about putting the iPod and a computer into the phone right here? This is true innovation."
At Taesik’s words, Mike’s pupils wavered.
"You are an absurd dreamer. How can you put a computer inside a mobile phone?"
Mike shook his head, calling it a preposterous proposal.
"You’re an engineer yourself, so you must know the latest technology. First, if you enlarge the phone screen, it can replace a monitor, and the keyboard can be implemented using static or pressure-sensitive touch methods. Now, isn't it possible if you just insert a semiconductor chip that acts as a CPU and an OS program to run the phone?"
"……."
"You’re putting a computer in the palm of your hand. All the technology already exists; you just need to act as a master artist and mix it all together."
Mike, lost in thought for a moment, looked at Taesik.
"If it’s such a great idea, you could do the business yourself. Why are you proposing it to me?"
"Because my dream is to develop a future vehicle that eliminates internal combustion engines, not mobile phones. I am dreaming of flying cars, not vehicles that stick to the ground."
As Taesik revealed his true intentions, Mike pushed up his glasses.
"The OS that goes into a computer took years of investment to develop, and developing a dedicated chip and OS for a mobile phone won't be easy……."
Taesik took out the blueprints he had drawn up while regressing.
"The mobile phone chip is already complete; you just need to develop the OS. If you join my vision, I can provide the necessary quantity."
Mike examined the blueprints Taesik had laid out.
"This is incredible. I don't know about power consumption, but the chip size is small enough to fit in a phone. But how can I trust the chip you designed? And you have to meet the minimum quantity conditions for a semiconductor company to produce the chips; is there really such a company?"
"Of course there is. I am serving as an advisor to Misung Electronics, and Misung will produce the mobile processors you need."
"A mobile processor……."
"How about it? Are you interested?"
"Fine. I’ll join in on your madness."
Taesik shook hands with Mike, agreeing to cooperate on the development of a new mobile phone, and promised to supply the mobile processors needed by Apple by the end of the year. Having instilled the will to develop a smartphone in Apple’s Mike—just as in history—Taesik returned to Korea and immediately met with Vice Chairman Jeon Hak-soo.
"I heard you went to the United States. What did you call me for?"
Taesik relayed the news that Apple was developing a new mobile phone and asked if Misung Electronics would be willing to participate.
"Hahaha. You’re a dreamer too…… How can you put a computer inside a mobile phone?"
Taesik, feeling frustrated, explained the concept of the business Apple was pursuing to Vice Chairman Jeon. He asked him to convey it to Chairman Lee Hyundo without fail and took out the mobile processor blueprints he had promised to provide in the negotiations with Apple.
"What is this?"
"It’s a mobile processor to be applied to Apple’s new mobile phone. It’s also a product that will bring countless profits to Misung Electronics in the future."
Vice Chairman Jeon, who was examining the blueprints, said,
"I understand. I will convey your opinion to the Chairman. And you know that there is a minimum quantity required to produce semiconductors, right? To make the item you requested, we have to shut down an existing line. Is it worth that much?"
"As far as I know, Misung Electronics has a test line used before actual production. Can’t we produce it using the test line?"
"Hahaha. That’s not known to the outside world yet, but for you to know that…… I will grant your request on my own authority. Instead, you must bear the costs of running the test line."
Taesik had tried to persuade Vice Chairman Jeon with the intention of launching the smartphone in South Korea first instead of Apple, but he was disappointed by the lack of interest and decided to pin his final hopes on Chairman Lee Hyundo.
"I understand. I will bear the cost of running the test line, no matter how much it is. Instead, please make sure to convey the business plan for the new mobile phone to Chairman Lee Hyundo."
Taesik returned to Starlink, hoping that Chairman Lee Hyundo would make a different choice.
At Starlink Communication, they had finished manufacturing two satellites and were preparing to send them to Russia, where the launch agency was located. President Ryu Gwang-soo requested additional personnel, saying they were short-staffed to handle navigation production, the satellites, and the volume to be supplied to Dae-A Motors, and Taesik readily agreed.
"President Ryu Gwang-soo. Starlink Communication is a company you manage. I will give you full autonomy, so please make decisions comfortably."
"I have been delegated full authority by you, Representative, but I wanted to confirm it once more. I have nowhere else to ask if the judgment I made is the right one, so I find myself relying on you."
"I understand completely. The person who makes the final decision is always having a hard time. And I plan to go to Starlink Aviation today."
"How is the atmosphere in the aviation sector? I heard that after weeding out the former bureaucrats, the atmosphere is changing……."
"For now, I’ve granted autonomy to the employees, but I’ll have to go down there myself to see how it has changed."
Taesik immediately decided to stop by Defense with President Cha Young-jin of Deepmind to check on the progress of the AESA radar miniaturization and derivative products currently being researched as successors to the Switchblade. President Cha Young-jin, who usually stayed in the lab, seemed excited about the rare business trip, enjoying the scenery outside the window. While talking with President Cha, he received a call from President Park In-tak of Starlink Defense.
"Representative, the Switchblade sales volume has finally begun in earnest."
He reported that after the Iraq hostage rescue operation, purchase proposals had come in from special forces in various countries, and that the main contracts had finally been concluded.
"Oh! The volume is finally exploding. What is the total order quantity?"
"10,000 Switchblade B units and 5,000 Switchblade C units."
Since there were no orders for the cardboard Switchblade A, he asked,
"Are there no orders for the Switchblade A?"
"Everyone admires the ingenious idea, but unfortunately, there is no volume that has led to a contract."
Taesik fell into disappointment upon confirming that there was no demand for the suicide drone made of cardboard that could be supplied at a low price, but President Park delivered other happy news.
"The AESA radar miniaturization work has finally been completed. We need to proceed with fighter jet mounting tests, but can we get the cooperation of Starlink Aviation?"
"That’s good. Starlink Aviation has a T50 development prototype, so we can proceed with the mounting test immediately. I’m on my way down to Starlink Aviation now; would you like to come?"
President Park expressed his intention to meet President Jo Yoon-je in person to build a cooperative system with Starlink Aviation, and they decided to join together. Upon arriving at Starlink Aviation, President Jo Yoon-je had finished preparing the management strategy presentation with his executives and was waiting for Taesik.
"Representative, thank you for your hard work on the US business trip. I didn't know you would persuade Lockseed, who participated in the T50 development, so easily."
"It’s profitable for them, so they’re lifting the restrictions. More than that, I heard good news from Starlink Defense on the way here. They said the AESA radar miniaturization work is finally finished."
"Oh! If we mount the AESA radar on our T50, it will be a big help."
"We still need to proceed with system integration tests through mounting tests. How many T50 development prototypes do you have?"
"We currently have one aircraft, and it has no special utilization plan, so integration testing is possible immediately."
"That’s good. Let’s hear the management strategy explanation first and then discuss the rest."
Taesik and President Cha Young-jin entered the conference room with President Jo Yoon-je, where executives and union representatives were seated. The executives looked nervous at the fact that their retention would be decided through performance evaluations. Once seated, President Jo went up to the podium himself and began the presentation.
"Starlink Aviation has established four management strategy tasks. We have subdivided them into fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and the civilian sector, and have established a plan to increase total sales by more than 20%, enter the top 20 in the global defense market within 10 years, and leap into the top 10 within 20 years."
President Jo had established more aggressive goals than Taesik had expected.
"First is the fighter jet sector. The T50 series aircraft is currently developing derivative aircraft, and we plan to target the global market currently dominated by the existing F16 by mounting an AESA radar instead of the existing mechanical radar and increasing armament capabilities."
President Jo announced detailed plans for each of the four areas, and in particular, declared that they would concentrate their capabilities to develop the drones that the US showcased in the Iraq War. Taesik mentioned the need for supplementary points in the management strategy, along with the promise to support the necessary funds to realize the management strategy in the form of a paid-in capital increase by year.
"Starlink plans to build its own GPS system within this year. Please revise the navigation system that goes into the fighter jets to use Starlink’s GPS in the future, and include the concept of being able to mount the Switchblade on maneuver helicopters."
At Taesik’s words, President Jo asked with a doubtful expression,
"Representative, the Ministry of National Defense has never requested armament requirements for maneuver helicopters other than machine guns. Is that okay?"