Lenovo CEO: Our Mission is to Surpass Apple, Samsung

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Posted January 31, 2014 at 8:35am by iClarified

In a recent interview with Fortune, Lenovo CEO Yuanqing Yang says that the company's mission is to surpass Apple and Samsung. Lenovo just announced that it has agreed to purchase Motorola from Google for $2.91 billion.

Yang tells Fortune how the deal came about:

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It's a very, very interesting love story. We were interested in Motorola a long time ago, even when they split into two companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions (MSI) [in January of 2011 --Ed.]. Right after Google (GOOG) bought Motorola [in 2012 ], I invited [Google executive chairman] Eric Schmidt to have a dinner at my house. I told him, "If you think you want run the hardware business, you can keep the business; but if you are not interested in the hardware business, we definitely can handle that, take over that."

He remembered that, and two months ago, he sent me an e-mail. I called him back, and he asked me, "Are you still interested in Motorola?" I said, "Definitely." We started to discuss it. I went to Silicon Valley many times. [Google CEO] Larry Page invited me to his house to have a dinner. Very quickly -- in just two months -- we closed the deal.
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The company has yet to decide whether it will brand its smartphones with the Lenovo name. Yang says, "Most likely we will leverage the Motorola brand, but it could be something like 'Motorola by Lenovo.'"

When asked if he thought the company could catch up to Apple or Samsung, he said, "Definitely, over time. Our mission is to surpass them."

The full interview can be read at the link below...

Lenovo CEO: Our Mission is to Surpass Apple, Samsung

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gamerscul9870 - February 2, 2014 at 6:51pm

It's easy to beat a copier but this Lenovo is a long shot to surpassing, if he has anyone smarter than jobs (which I doubt it) then he may have a 25% chance. Grabbing popcorn to see this.

Reply · Like

Nitro Junkie - January 31, 2014 at 11:30pm

Good luck with that Lenovo. Motorolas been on a downward spiral even before google bought them. And with their reputation of making junk I'm pretty sure it's alittle late to the game. Potential customers have moved on.

Sean - January 31, 2014 at 8:21pm

Apple bankrupt??? Yeah that $200 BILLION in cash doesn't count right??? No one even knows what's in apples pipeline for future products. The iPhone was in design stage 5 years before release. We always think about right now. They're 5-10 years in future releases. So no one can ever "catch up" to what they have no idea what's coming!

Wow13 - January 31, 2014 at 6:28pm

They will catch up with Apple that's for sure. But after the new Samsung/Google deal, i don't thing that Samsung is in its reach, not i the coming 5 years.

Ken - January 31, 2014 at 8:49pm

Samsung was in it's reach before Samsung started copying Apple, Samsung doesn't do anything others couldn't do better. Amazing how people think corrupt Samsung is some wonderful company at the forefront of the industry, unless they mean the industry of lying, copying and corruption.

ObamaFailed - January 31, 2014 at 9:33pm

Ken wait until S5 metal body come out this march and you will see big chance that will impact iPhone ! I love iPhone I love android but I have more control fund using android then iPhone

ObamaFailed - January 31, 2014 at 9:34pm

Ken wait until S5 metal body come out this march and you will see big chance that will impact iPhone ! I love iPhone I love android but I have more control funs using android then iPhone

gamerscul9870 - January 31, 2014 at 9:40pm

Yeah right after apple made iPhone in colors and gold and 2 metals, yeah just wait for the catch up coming so you can use it as comebacks, just because one thing is bigger doesn't mean it's better, even tmobile doesn't agree.

Wow13 - January 31, 2014 at 10:19pm

I love iPhone, i just hate iOS (and I'm wring this on a Mac). @Ken So when Apple works with a corrupt, lying and copying they did nothing wrong? Come on there is nothing in common between S4 and Note 3 with iPhone 5s. And for example Note 3 is far better than iPhone 5s, so how do you copy from someone who worse than you?

gamerscul9870 - January 31, 2014 at 10:41pm

Pfft, look at articles of android winning that don't even exist, iPhone 5 replaced s4 in uae, also look at iPhone 5 is 2.5x faster than android devices posted here, the rest you'll see proves it, even if you count jd power awards.

Yaqoobs - January 31, 2014 at 6:06pm

Well iOS VS Android , iPhone is standard all over the world , I hate cheap Android devices bring bad name to great open source OS.

gamerscul9870 - January 31, 2014 at 5:22pm

Yeah when was the last success?

ObamaFailed - January 31, 2014 at 4:54pm

Don't ever under tease Chinese

iLenovo - January 31, 2014 at 3:04pm

What an aim! Won't help if the quality is sh't!

Some1 - January 31, 2014 at 2:20pm

Lol. That's funny. It's one thing to say it. It's a whole nother thing to do it.

iHoomaan - January 31, 2014 at 12:58pm

It's 5th Mission Impossible! LoooL

Wake Up Lenovo - January 31, 2014 at 12:27pm

"Lenovo CEO: Our Mission is to Surpass Apple, Samsung" Yeah, Good luck with that!

ICLARIFIED FAN - January 31, 2014 at 10:54am

I love u dream! But never ever ever ever apple for real!!! Ha

evilsearch - January 31, 2014 at 10:13am

samsung ?definitely maybe...apple? nah...not in this lifetime

Realist - January 31, 2014 at 8:52pm

Umm, yea I do. Its called research, don't believe me? Look it up. It is pretty easy actually, you just search for articles. You can use Google if you want. I mean, Samsung isn't perfect, but Apple is just pure evil when compared. So uh, yea. Thanks for the reply I guess...

gamerscul9870 - January 31, 2014 at 8:58pm

Yeah like teaming up with samshit is going to save their asses. What will they think of next, hiring a fortune teller to show Apple's future ideas so you guys can rush it out, oh wait, forgot they don't have one, face it.

Nitro Junkie - January 31, 2014 at 11:26pm

And it's funny that Tony never responds when someone proves his ludicrous comments wrong.

Yeah - February 1, 2014 at 9:12pm

Lol okay. That's exactly what I'm doing, you got me!

gamerscul9870 - February 1, 2014 at 9:15pm

So who are you then?

Yeah - February 1, 2014 at 9:19pm

Just a user. You can call me Fred. So, where do you want to meet up?

gamerscul9870 - February 1, 2014 at 9:20pm

Apple store, Northpark center.

Yeah - February 1, 2014 at 9:23pm

What state? I need a zipcode. Should I just ask NSA instead, if it's too much of a hassle?

gamerscul9870 - February 1, 2014 at 9:25pm

75043

Yeah - February 1, 2014 at 9:28pm

Alright, well I can show up around 8:00ish and I will be wearing a green shirt with regular jeans. I look forward to meeting you.

gamerscul9870 - February 1, 2014 at 10:01pm

Thank god it's on a weekend.

Yeah - February 1, 2014 at 10:03pm

I know right? After work I would be too tired. So how is your weekend going so far?

gamerscul9870 - February 1, 2014 at 10:58pm

Good, just listened to the new ebf4 song and the expansion is released, listen to "jump into battle" on the game on kongregate.com

hooman - January 31, 2014 at 8:53am

LooL it's so funny