113
Early the next morning, in a modest company on the 3rd floor of SEG Technology Park in Huaqiang South, Shenzhen, it was too early for the employees to arrive, yet two men were already sitting at their computer stations.
"Old Ma, I found something fun on Tianya last night."
A slightly overweight young man in his late twenties, with delicate features and heavy dark circles under his eyes, stared intently at the screen, his face full of excitement as if he had discovered a new continent.
The "Old Ma" he was referring to was the young man sitting next to him, dressed in a plaid shirt and glasses, exuding the aura of an engineer.
"What's up? Found something fun?" Ma Teng leaned over, pushing his glasses up to look at the screen.
"Last night, there was a post on Tianya that suddenly went viral. A netizen shared a free computer check-up activity, introducing a powerful antivirus software."
"It's called '361 Computer Security Manager.' What a great name!"
"I downloaded the program at home. Do you know what technology it uses?" Zhang Zhibei teased.
"What technology could it be? Isn't all antivirus software based on broad-spectrum signature code technology?" Ma Teng shook his head with a smile.
"No, Old Ma, you're wrong. This is a new technology, and I even know this technology is still in the experimental stage. I didn't expect someone to commercialize it already!" Zhang Zhibei said excitedly.
Being a technical expert and the CTO of this company, he was very sensitive to various internet technologies and craved new technological applications.
"Huh? What new technology?" Ma Teng was taken aback.
"Heuristic scanning technology!" Zhang Zhibei announced each word with emphasis.
"What? That's still in research, isn't it? How could someone have commercialized it?" Ma Teng was shocked, jumping up to peer over Zhang Zhibei's shoulder and scrutinize the screen closely.
Indeed, the 361 Computer Security Manager software was running on his computer, initiating a tomb scanning process, identifying multiple suspicious programs as potentially viral and marking them in red.
Zhang Zhibei's eyes sparkled with excitement, "Hehe, see? Those programs are ones I made up as virus simulations, new and without any execution features, but this antivirus software still detected them."
"That's why I'm sure this is heuristic scanning technology, requiring a very strong underlying inspection mechanism to implement!"
"This is a revolutionary innovation in antivirus software!"
"I bet this software will explode in popularity!"
Ma Teng inhaled sharply, amazed, "There are really hidden dragons and crouching tigers in China, using heuristic scanning technology!"
"Who developed and released this software?"
Zhang Zhibei smiled, "You'll know in a moment."
After the scan finished, a pop-up appeared.
"To unlock more features, please use an activation code."
Below it was a method to obtain the code: make a purchase at Xifeng Electronics, and with a certain amount spent, receive an activation code.
Then, a webpage automatically popped up, the portal site for Xifeng Electronics, showcasing their computer components prices and focusing on repair services.
Seeing this series of operations, Ma Teng's eyes lit up, "This business model, not bad!"
"What is this Xifeng Electronics? I've never heard of it in the internet industry."
"Zhibei, have you heard of it?"
Zhang Zhibei shook his head, "I haven't heard of this company either. Maybe… it's something a genius in China came up with?"
"To also develop heuristic scanning technology, that's pretty impressive. I admit I couldn't do it."
Ma Teng pondered for a moment, "We definitely need to get in touch with Xifeng Electronics when we have the chance. I have a feeling this antivirus software will definitely explode in popularity!"
"It might even reach more users than our Tencent!"
"It could be a dark horse in the future!"
Zhang Zhibei curiously asked, "Old Ma, are you thinking of acquiring them?"
Ma Teng chuckled bitterly, "Acquire? With what money?"
"We're nearly out of money to buy servers, with only 100,000 left in the accounts. If we don't expand our servers, we won't be able to support OICQ in a couple of months!"
OICQ, or QQ, was struggling as the number of registered users increased monthly and online numbers hit new highs daily, pushing the Tencent's servers to their limits.
If they couldn't secure financing to expand servers, a crash was inevitable.
Mentioning this problem, both men fell silent.
This instant messaging project was too costly in its early stages, with no short-term returns or clear profit model.
Moreover, during the internet bubble, financing for internet companies was extremely difficult, with many fearing collapse.
Without a clear profit model, many investors rejected the Tencent.
"Old Ma, if we… can't hold on, what do you plan to do?" Zhang Zhibei suddenly asked solemnly.
Ma Teng's face showed pain, followed by a heavy sigh.
"If… if one day we really can't keep going, let's sell the company."
"The company… should be worth six or seven hundred thousand, right?"
Zhang Zhibei also chuckled bitterly, "If it really comes to that, I'd be truly unwilling!"
QQ was developed line by line by him and other technicians, representing years of hard work.
The project was like his child, growing day by day, with online user numbers breaking one hundred, one thousand, ten thousand…
He worked overnight, updating the software, fixing bugs, making it better and better, proudly telling people the software was developed by him and his colleagues.
The entire Tencent aimed to create the largest and first domestic instant messaging software, with everyone working hard towards this goal.
Everyone wanted to be the next internet giant, but while dreams were grand, reality was harsh.
As user numbers increased, they felt less joy and more anxiety.
Because the company couldn't afford more servers.
There were only two options: either secure financing to continue expanding servers and operations, or sell the company to a more financially capable company, exiting completely.
Ma Huateng and Zhang Zhibei preferred the first option, not wanting to sell the company unless absolutely necessary.
Ma Huateng returned to his seat, gazing at the still-dark sky with a determined look.
"Yes, I'm also not willing to give up just like that."
"Zhibei, I believe our company will survive!"
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