Back to 1995

"I am very happy that Skype can bring Internet calling to users. In the future, users will continue to use Skype and will not be affected by accidents and enjoy the convenience brought by Internet calling, but..."

At the Microsoft headquarters, Ballmer and a group of executives gathered in front of a TV, watching Irene's interview.

"For ICQ, the current Skype has changed. We are lucky to have more than 4700 million Skype users, accompanying us through this special but forever memorable experience, but ICQ has to make a choice after all!
Of course, ICQ will not give up. The original intention of using the Internet to provide users with the best service, the Starlink Communications Group has been successfully established. In the future, whether it is in New York, or a farm in Houston, or the ice and snow in Minnesota, or even the Antarctic and the North Pole. Can use the satellite network provided by Starlink! "

Ballmer watched Irene's interview on TV, and while being shocked, he was really sure that Song Yang was going to sell Skype.

"We have received news that according to the agreement reached between Skype and the Telecom Operators Association, the profitability of the Skype platform will be greatly affected, and there may be huge losses this year!"

Song Yang’s old acquaintance, Todd from Microsoft’s public relations department, told Ballmer the news, “In addition, it is rumored that during the settlement negotiations, ICQ was threatened and may be subject to antitrust investigations because of Skype, which may lead Bruno Song to decide Sell ​​Skype!"

Todd's words gave Ballmer and other Microsoft executives a clear understanding of this matter. Under the pressure of FCC Mike Bowen in the name of antitrust, Song Yang and ICQ were arrested. forced to accept this unfair settlement agreement.

After signing the settlement agreement, Skype's revenue has been greatly affected, and it is facing the threat of anti-monopoly, which makes Song Yang want to throw away this "burden"!
After all, money-losing goods have become ICQ's weakness again, why keep the Skype platform, maybe one day, someone will pinch it again, so it's better to make a move as soon as possible.

But for Song Yang, the "burden" made Ballmer very excited. Isn't it just that he doesn't make money? Microsoft received so little money-losing goods. Microsoft's Xbox console business also lost more than 100 billion U.S. dollars After the knife, did you start making money? !
Skype is weak for ICQ, but for Microsoft, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With Skype, Microsoft will directly become the largest VoIP provider in America. In the future, Skype may bring hundreds of millions of users to Microsoft. Let Microsoft gain a firm foothold in the social field and become the second largest Internet social platform in America.

Even, in the future, it is impossible to say that Skype will really replace those traditional telecom operator groups. Although the hope is slim, for Microsoft, it is absolutely acceptable to get the Skype platform and a little loss. The payoff appears to be more!

Skype can form Microsoft's Internet camp with Microsoft's MSN, IE browser, Hotmail mailbox, etc., and Skype can reduce Microsoft's advertising costs. In addition, in the hands of ICQ, Skype's most wanted enterprise users are to let major The company has become a Skype user, using it for telemarketing, conference calls, etc., but has not made much progress. It has not been done in the hands of ICQ, but it may not be impossible in the hands of Microsoft!
"Microsoft wants to get Skype at all costs!" Ballmer said decisively, preparing to take the acquisition of Skype as the most important thing to do since he took office as the head of Microsoft.

Todd looked at Ballmer, who was waving his fist and couldn't hide his excitement, and reminded the second generation of Microsoft, "President Ballmer, it may not be so easy to acquire Skype."

Seeing Ballmer's gaze, Todd said helplessly, "There is news that Murdoch News Corporation, Cisco, Yahoo, T&T, and Sprint are also interested in acquiring Skype platform!"

Hearing that there are so many rivals coming up to compete with Microsoft for Skype, Ballmer couldn't help being stunned for a moment. Didn't he say that Skype is a loser? Why are so many companies, like Microsoft, vying to take advantage of it?
"Telegraph and Telegraph Group, Sprint also want to buy Skype?!"

Ballmer was really surprised. He didn't know how these Skype rivals would jump out to compete, and then he immediately came to his senses. Don't look at the big telecom giants shouting at Skype, but if there is a chance to get Skype , who is so unmoved.

After the news of Skype's sale came out, the reactions of major giant companies were not much slower than Microsoft's. It was impossible for Ballmer to start snatching it in advance.

"Microsoft needs Skype, no matter the cost!"

After pondering, Ballmer still said in a serious tone, making preparations for all Microsoft executives. If necessary, he will go to San Jose to meet Song Yang in person.

This night, for the whole of America and even the global technology industry, it was a sleepless night, and all kinds of true and false news were flying all over the sky.

It just came out that Skype reached a settlement with the Telecom Operators Association, and Skype was allowed to be used on the computer side. After a few minutes, it came out that ICQ was going to sell Skype. It was really explosive.

Immediately afterwards, many giant companies in the technology, media, and telecommunications industries, including Microsoft, News Corporation, Cisco, Yahoo, Telephone and Telegraph, Sprint, and Comcast, announced their interest in the Skype platform one after another!

"ICQ has officially confirmed that it will sell the Skype platform. Currently, Microsoft, Cisco, and News Corporation will all participate in the acquisition of Skype!"

Early the next morning, the Wall Street Journal confirmed that the rumors were true and that Skype was indeed going to be sold. All major TV stations, newspapers, magazines, Internet portals, and forums were all concerned about this news for a while. reports.

These reports made Mike Bowen, who was in the limelight last night, feel a lot of pressure now, because in these reports, there are looming reports that the reason why ICQ sold Skype was completely forced. ICQ was forced to sign an unfair settlement agreement, making it difficult to make a profit, coupled with the threat of antitrust, ICQ had no choice but to bow its head, but Bruno Song sold Skype in a rage, and the instigator of all this , it's all Mike Bowen!
These reports made Mike Bowen really attract attention for a while, and made him one of the most powerful figures in Washington, but Mike Bowen really didn't want this attention.

Think about it, what would the Xiangdang people and those big benefactors think of him if he forced the biggest benefactor of the Xiangdang to make concessions, and even forced the big benefactor to sell off his most valued property? ? !
Mike Bowen, who returned to Washington overnight, entered the Grand Commander's Mansion. He didn't know whether it was his own illusion or the real thing. He felt that those people who entered and exited the Grand Commander's Mansion looked at him with strange eyes. .

Ignoring these gazes, Mike Bowen went straight to the commander's office. He also secretly called it unlucky. Although Song Yang did mention beforehand that if the settlement agreement was not ideal, he would sell Skype, but he actually sold it directly. Well, who the hell would have thought of this? If I had known this, I would have killed Mike Bowen and wouldn't have done anything like this.

"This incident was indeed beyond my expectations, but the Federal Communications Commission has no intention of dismantling ICQ..."

In the commander-in-chief's office, Mike Bowen shouted grievances, and the little cowboy commander and Chief of Staff Card were all present.

The leader of the Little Cowboy was sitting on a chair with his head resting on his hands. Song Yang's sale of Skype was a huge shock to the Xiang Party. Early this morning, the Little Cowboy heard that many powerful figures in the Xiang Party had There are quite a few criticisms about this matter, and many big donors of the elephant party have expressed their worries. If they treat Song Yang as a big donor like this, what will it be like to treat them? !

The little cowboy may be a bit unreliable when dealing with other affairs, but in terms of human relationships, the little cowboy is at the top level.

The little cowboy also felt that this was a bit weird. He had dealt with Song Yang a lot. He didn't dare to say that he knew Song Yang well enough like Adrian, but he also knew Song Yang's character. When he first debuted, he dared to be tough. Just now, Ella Cherry and the Federal Department of Justice behind her hunted down Wall Street short sellers, and now a Mike Bowen forced Song Yang to give in. He didn't even use his contacts and connections, and he didn't call him, the commander-in-chief. a phone call.

After taking a look at Mike Bowen, the little cowboy didn't find anything special about him. The little cowboy couldn't help guessing, maybe he just missed it...

At this time, on the other side, Kad, who advised the little cowboy, said at this time, "What if Bruno Song never thought about keeping the Skype platform from the beginning?!"

Card suddenly proposed something that no one had ever thought of, which made the little cowboy and Mike Bowen stunned. Card's statement made them feel absurd, but it seemed so possible.