Reborn 92's Business Tycoon - Chapter 623: Polishing the Electronic Map Company

Chapter 623: Chapter 623: Polishing the Electronic Map Company

‘What were you whispering to Mike about?’ Seeing him return, Jin Ling asked warily, ‘I’m telling you, there’s no negotiating about security. Don’t think that this side is the same as the mainland. You’re now a minority, and some people have a natural sense of superiority when they see you,’

‘Yes, Yiping, you can’t be careless about these things. Besides, you should also think about why they emphasise the importance of not discriminating against ethnic minorities here so much. Isn’t it because this kind of discrimination is serious?’ Hong Haoran chimed in.

‘Yes, Yiping, Jinling and Mr Hong are right,’ Huang Jingping also persuaded, ‘We’d better listen to her,’

Feng Yiping was dumbfounded. ‘You all think too much. Do I seem like the kind of person who can’t listen to opinions? I’m happy to have two people following me around, and having someone do all the chores for me, how great is that? Mike and I were just having a casual chat,’

‘That’s good, you guys chat, I’m going back to my room to rest, I’m still a bit unaccustomed to this,’ Jin Ling yawned.

‘Me too, I’m sleepy,’ Hong Haoran said in the same way.

‘Wait, sit for a while,’ Feng Yiping stopped them, ‘I didn’t just call you over here for this,’

‘This matter is so complicated, you have other things to do?’ Jin Ling exclaimed.

‘Yes, I’ve looked into it a bit, and the largest electronic map provider in the United States is NAVTEQ, which is based in Chicago. You should find out in the next two days whether it is having a hard time right now and whether there is any chance that we can invest in it,’

He didn’t say anything about acquisition or holding, and the map industry is still quite sensitive. For example, all the relevant companies that entered the Chinese market later had their map data provided only by our domestic map companies.

Similarly, it is simply impossible for a company with a Chinese background like theirs to acquire the largest electronic map provider in the United States.

Why did he bring up maps again? Hong Haoran couldn’t understand.

Jin Ling was already used to Feng Yiping’s jumpy thinking, and after a moment’s thought, he said, ‘Is it because our website needs to use electronic maps?’

According to Feng Yiping’s vision, the community map on NEXTDOOR will be exactly the same as the real one, so it is necessary to purchase the electronic maps from the map provider.

‘Yes, not exactly,’ Feng Yiping leaned comfortably on the sofa, ‘Although at present, various navigation devices are only used in some cutting-edge fields and have not yet become popular in the civilian market, I believe that in the near future, there will be more and more devices, such as car navigation systems in every car, and the electronic map providers will have an easier time,’

This is a somewhat incomplete excuse. Nowadays, car navigation devices are still considered high-end luxury goods, and there is still a long way to go before they become commonplace. It is likely to be 2007 before they really become popular, based on the popularity of GPS applications on mobile phone terminals.

More importantly, all the various business models in the mobile Internet era will be inseparable from electronic maps. Any application will need to read your location information.

This includes the services that Feng Yiping envisages, such as group buying and reviews, which will be based on NEXTDOOR in the future. None of these services can do without the use of electronic maps.

So, while the general environment is not good and the demand for electronic maps is not strong, if you can get involved in this industry, for example by investing in an established company, it would certainly be a good deal. After all, Feng Yiping is not short of money.

‘If every car is equipped with a navigation system, the market will be huge!’ Hong Haoran said.

In the future, it won’t just be cars that will have this installed. Mobile devices such as mobile phones will be the main market.

‘Okay, we’ll get right on it,’ Jin Ling agreed readily.

She even felt a little guilty, wondering why she hadn’t thought of this related issue on her own.

‘Okay, I’m done. You two get some rest!’

To be honest, in the US, it’s really not easy for people with such connections to get together and watch TV.

In domestic TV dramas, there aren’t many kissing scenes, but in the TV dramas here, there’s popping sound every now and then.

…

The two people summoned were busy non-stop from the next day onwards, while Feng Yiping and Huang Jingping, accompanied by a man and a woman, two security assistants arranged by the company, flew to Los Angeles.

For someone who is going to the United States for the first time from China, apart from New York and Washington, the other destination should probably be Los Angeles, because this is where Hollywood is, and it is home to the world’s most famous top movie stars.

‘Is this the Chinese Theatre?’ Huang Jingping asked, looking at the building in front of her, a little uncertain.

Feng Yiping understood what she meant. ‘Don’t look at the overall shape of the building, just look at the dragon, especially these two stone lions. It’s very authentic, isn’t it?’ Feng Yiping said with a smile.

The so-called East-meets-West design of the Chinese Theatre, in Feng Yiping’s opinion, is nothing. If someone studying ancient architecture in China designed such a building, they would definitely be beaten to death by the master.

‘It’s just these two lions, the rest looks,’ Huang Jingping thought for a moment, ‘at most like those inferior bandit strongholds from ancient times,’

Feng Yiping made her laugh. Isn’t it true that the strange roof, with those four clusters at the corners that stab into the sky for no apparent reason, does look a bit like what she said, ‘and it’s also from an ethnic minority,’ Feng Yiping added.

‘Let’s go,’ Huang Jingping was a little disheartened.

It really is better to hear about the sights than to see them.

This world-famous attraction is probably going to be a big disappointment to many people who come here admiring it.

Many parts of the ground are cracked and not clean, there are many beggars and various hawkers, and the most annoying thing is that those ‘artists’ dressed up as characters from classic movies will force you to take a photo together, and then they will force you to pay money.

Feng Yiping and the others were followed by a Jedi Knight, who insisted on taking a photo together. If it weren’t for the two security assistants following them, there would be nothing they could do.

They had seen a tourist couple with their two children being forced by a black man to take a photo together, and then being asked for a donation. If they refused, they would immediately be surrounded by three or four people and not be allowed to leave.

When the tourists were forced to pay, they were originally only supposed to pay one dollar, but in the end they were forced to pay 20 dollars by those people.

‘I strongly suggest that the city management teams from China and their advanced experience be introduced here,’ Feng Yiping said with a smile. He felt that the place was similar to long-distance bus stations in various parts of the country, and it was chaotic.

Why don’t they do something about such a typical place?

However, when they arrived in Beverly Hills, Huang Jingping finally experienced American luxury. She had originally thought that her home in Silicon Valley was quite nice, but compared to the mansions there, it was just ordinary.

Following Feng Yiping’s instructions, the assistant drove to a place in the hills. It was a house under construction, not very big, but with a good location, a superb view, and a very unique appearance.

‘What are we stopping here for?’ Huang Jingping asked, puzzled. “Is this the new home of some celebrity?’

Feng Yiping smiled but didn’t say anything. “Do you think this place is good?’

‘Yes,’ Huang Jingping replied casually, a little puzzled. ‘What do you mean, is this it too?’

Feng Yiping nodded. Just then, a car pulled up and the head of the construction company arrived, carrying a bag. ‘You must be Mr Feng! I’m Peter,’

Peter, the construction contractor, gave a detailed account of the progress of the project to his new boss. Huang Jingping was overjoyed, looking at the house, which was getting better and better with every visit. How could she not be happy?

“It’s good to have the current house, but it’s still being built, and we can’t live here yet,’

‘Easy. In the future, we’ll buy a plane and come here for the weekends when we get tired of living in Silicon Valley,’