Chapter 127

Chapter 127 Worshiping the Heaven

   The reporter who asked Baxter would probably never forget the expression on Baxter's face in his lifetime.

  One second he was still full of ambitions, as if defeating Microsoft was within easy reach, and the next second Baxter wanted to show his demeanor, but the smile on his face couldn't be shown no matter what.

In fact, even Baxter, who has experienced all kinds of ups and downs, was a little confused at this time. Netscape naturally knew that Microsoft and Song Yang were negotiating. Microsoft can directly sell Hotmail mailboxes, which Netscape never thought of.

   "Netscape has an alliance with Sun and AOL, which is enough to face any opponent!"

   Baxter could only emphasize it again, and then wanted to leave in a graceful manner, but the reporters couldn't let him leave, and kept asking various questions around Baxter.

   "Once Microsoft IE browser gets tens of millions of Hotmail users, the number of users will be equal to that of Netscape. How will Netscape respond?!"

   "Will Netscape be defeated by Microsoft's IE browser?"

  When asked about the relationship between Netscape and Song Yang, Baxter couldn't bear it any longer, glaring at the reporter who asked the question, "Don't speculate, things haven't happened yet, all accidents are possible!"

The reporters surrounding Baxter were in an uproar at first, and then became even more excited. Baxter was speaking harshly, and he was obviously going to block the acquisition. In addition, Baxter's rare gaffe also showed that Netscape was acquired by Microsoft. Ji punched hard with an uppercut, and the fight was indeed a bit embarrassing.

   "This could be the day that changes Internet history in America!"

The media and reporters who went back and forth from the Netscape headquarters to the ICQ office building sighed in their hearts about what happened today. Big day.

In the ICQ building, the agreement was still in full swing. The reporter in front of the Netscape headquarters reported the news from Seattle. A Wall Street representative who participated in the Microsoft board meeting, after leaving Microsoft's lair, couldn't help but turn to The media declared, "Microsoft will continue to be great, and the dark clouds hanging over Microsoft have dissipated!"

  The representative of the director of the Wall Street investment bank, although he didn't say it clearly, revealed the heavy news. Since the second half of this year, Microsoft's stock price has been falling continuously.

  Continuous rumors and rumors, all kinds of news, Microsoft will be abandoned by the Internet, etc., so that Microsoft, which has hit a new high in revenue this year, has seen a sharp drop in its stock price.

For this Wall Street director to say this to Microsoft, it is obvious that Microsoft has undergone a huge change. Under the siege of the media, there are still a large number of investors bombarding Microsoft with calls, asking if Microsoft has acquired Wait, as a last resort, a person from Microsoft's public relations department said informally and vaguely, "Microsoft is indeed in contact with Hotmail, but everything is based on Microsoft's announcement!"

   This one is enough. When the media reported it, it directly became that Microsoft will acquire Hotmail mailbox.

"The latest news from the technology industry is that Microsoft is approaching the emerging Internet company Hotmail. The latter is the largest e-mail brand in America. Since its launch this year, it has gained tens of millions of users around the world through the means of "viral marketing". Some analysts believe that the acquisition of Hotmail will completely change Microsoft's situation on the Internet, and if the two can be integrated successfully, Microsoft's IE browser may gain more than 30% of browser users... Microsoft did not announce the specific amount involved!"

A local TV station in Silicon Valley was the first to start reporting. When the news came out, the entire technology industry was in a state of shock. Just now, the technology industry was still discussing whether the alliance formed by Netscape would sweep the technology industry. Now, the technology industry It seems to feel the fear of being dominated by Microsoft again.

Song Yang is still negotiating with people from Microsoft. The board of directors of Microsoft has authorized Greg Maffey the right to negotiate this time, which basically agrees to these shocking conditions of Song Yang, although the specific conditions are of course Still wrangling, but basically the overall situation has been settled.

Song Yang basically gave up most of the equity of the local American brand of Hotmail mailbox, retaining only 10%, and retained the identity of a director. The same is true for Jotus, who will hold 25% of the equity of Hotmail , only kept 5%, and all the rest were transferred to Microsoft, that is, Microsoft got 85% of the shares of the local brand of Hotmail America.

  The overseas Hotmail brand, Song Yang and Jotus, also jointly transferred 40% of the shares to Microsoft, but the control of overseas Hotmail mailboxes is still in the hands of Song Yang.

   This is only a part of the whole agreement, the most important part, but not all. Song Yang has reached many agreements with Microsoft, basically a comprehensive cooperation agreement.

  Double-Click will be responsible for the online promotion of IE browser, and Double-Click will officially start cooperation with Microsoft. Some of the advertisements for Microsoft's office and other products will be placed by Double-Click, which represents Microsoft's official start of Internetization.

  The reason why Song Yang retains part of the equity in Hotmail is also to facilitate the promotion of ICQ, etc. There are two concepts of having equity and not having equity.

Song Yang kept a hand in the agreement, and on the grounds that Hotmail has signed a cooperation agreement with Double-click, the business operation rights of Hotmail will not be handed over to Microsoft until the middle of next year, that is, the right to place advertisements on Hotmail. I will get it and return it to Microsoft next year.

   This is mainly to promote ICQ. Hotmail now has nearly 10 million users in America, and the global market is also huge. If the promotion channel of Hotmail mailboxes is lost, it will be unfavorable for ICQ.

For this small trick, Microsoft pinched its nose and recognized it. It was taken advantage of, and it took out hundreds of millions of dollars, and it didn't care about this little thing. Therefore, Microsoft knew that there were pitfalls in business operation rights, Hotmail mailbox data sharing with Song Yang's new product users, account sharing, etc., but in order to kill Netscape, they also recognized it.

Lawyers on both sides are drafting a preliminary agreement contract, which will be announced later. A lot of reporters downstairs are waiting, and the Seattle side is also looking forward to it. Wall Street doesn't know how many people who hold Microsoft shares can't sleep tonight. , just to wait for Microsoft's announcement, so today, no matter what the agreement is, it has to be signed.

   "Song, what do you think about the promotion of Microsoft IE?!"

  In the small room next to the conference room, Greg Maffey, Todd, and Song Yang were in it.

Although what Song Yang said about helping Microsoft defeat Netscape was only a verbal agreement and would not be written in the agreement, but Song Yang mentioned it during the negotiation just now, which made Greg Maffey and Todd quite happy. Heart.

"That depends on what step Microsoft wants to achieve, whether it wants to slowly defeat Netscape, or make a quick decision, or how far it wants to beat Netscape." Song Yang drank his saliva, making the already smoking Throat finally felt a little better. It was a full day of tearing with Microsoft today.

  Todd said a little puzzled, "What's the difference?!"

"If you want to be steady and steady, then of course Microsoft will acquire Internet companies such as Hotmail as it is doing today, continue to attract new users for the IE browser, and then slowly improve the technology. In three to five years, Netscape will be under the pressure. ."

   Before Song Yang finished speaking, Todd shook his head, "Microsoft doesn't have that much time, and Gates and the board of directors can't give us that much time either!"

  Ghost knows what the Internet industry will be like at that time. What Microsoft is most afraid of is that Netscape will become a climate. Once the tail is too big, a large group of companies will surround Netscape to find fault with Microsoft.

   "If you want to be fast, then you have to draw your salary from the bottom!"

  Song Yang looked at the two of them, "This method kills one thousand enemies and damages oneself two thousand. If you want to defeat Netscape in the fastest time, IE can only give up the fee."

   "Give up the fee?!"

  Greg Maffey and Todd both looked shocked. Fees are the lifeblood of Microsoft, just like computer systems. If it were free, Microsoft would have been drinking Northwest Wind.

   "This is the fastest way, just like the Hitmail mailbox, which can occupy the entire market in the shortest time. As for the side effect, it is the possibility of revenue..."

  Anyway, it has already been sold, and Song Yang is no longer afraid of Microsoft, because it cannot charge, which leads to a very simple monetization method for Hotmail, which is to send advertising emails. Compared with paid software, the revenue is really low.

   "Of course, Microsoft can also charge for IE after occupying the market."

Hearing this, Greg Maffei and Todd were quite moved. This is equivalent to Microsoft extending the trial period of the software. The trial period is one year. As long as it defeats Netscape, Microsoft can slowly adapt to the software. IE charges fees, but users who are accustomed to free browsers have a hard time saying what their attitude towards fees is.

   "Song, what do you mean by hitting Netscape to such an extent?!" Todd asked Song Yang calmly.

  Song Yang glanced at Greg Maffey and Todd. This is probably what they really wanted to ask.

   "Both the first two methods can defeat Netscape, but they will not make Netscape disappear. At most, IE will become the leader in the browser market, and Netscape will become the second!"

   "To make Netscape disappear, you need the IE browser, "deep" cooperation with the Microsoft system, and even some exclusive agreements."

Song Yang didn't explain it clearly, but Greg Maffey and Todd also instantly understood what Song Yang meant. Looking at the two people in front of them, Song Yang would never admit that he had given Microsoft any advice when he left this door. Song Yang didn't mention anything about binding IE to the Microsoft system, allowing users to choose between the Microsoft system and Netscape, it's all in their imagination!

  (end of this chapter)