Back to 1995

Chapter 123

As one of the most "old" technology companies in America's technology industry today, Microsoft has inherited the style of a traditional large company, and its headquarters is quite large, far exceeding the size of latecomers.

It is also difficult for emerging technology companies to surpass the size of Microsoft's headquarters, and it is possible to surpass it in terms of the number of employees, but it is somewhat unlikely to build the headquarters into a small city.

Carrying Song Yang's vehicle, he drove directly to the venue where today's developer conference was held. Along the way, Song Yang could see the entire park lined with trees, and the buses that shuttled Microsoft employees to and from get off work kept coming and going.

Along the way, Song Yang and Irene couldn't help sighing softly when they saw the endless buildings, all of which belonged to Microsoft's offices. Only after they came here would they discover the strength of Microsoft.

After passing through many small buildings, I passed a building with a particularly conspicuous Microsoft LOGO. According to rumors, the Windows system and Office were born there, and now Microsoft's most important servers are stored.

However, what Song Yang is most interested in is in the technology industry in America. The legendary Microsoft Building 87 is rumored to be Microsoft's secret laboratory, and many black technologies are in it, but if there is such a place, it is probably not It will make it easy for people to get in.

As a fully functional office park, in addition to the office building, the rest of the staff apartment buildings and department stores are also available. In addition, libraries, museums, sports clubs, football fields, swimming pools, rock climbing, sauna rooms, etc. Everything is available, Netscape has to send employees to other places to practice rock climbing, Microsoft can do it directly in the old nest, it is not an exaggeration to say that this is a completely self-sufficient town...

When I arrived at the venue for the conference, there was already a jam at this time. One can imagine how many people came today.

"Song!"

Just a moment later, Todd was already waiting there with a few Microsoft executives. Many people who were about to enter the building were a little surprised when they saw Todd come out to welcome them. The president of public relations personally greeted him, which is quite high.

Those who inquired about Song Yang's identity were secretly surprised when they saw Song Yang and Todd standing together.

Song Yang and Todd entered the building, and there were a lot of collections and other things at the entrance of the hall. What attracted Song Yang's attention was a wall, yes, it was a wall with ruins!
Seeing Song Yang's gaze, Todd said to Song Yang, "This is from the president of Mercedes-Benz Group when he visited here. This wall was pulled down from the Berlin Wall in 89!"

Song Yang and Irene glanced at the wall, and after looking at each other, they could only sigh again that Microsoft's Bige was able to pull the wall from Germany across the Atlantic Ocean. No other company has used this thing to decorate the facade.

There was still a moment before the opening of the conference. Song Yang and Todd came to the rest area of ​​the hall. There were also many people gathered here, and Microsoft's public relations department and the media that were allowed to enter were taking pictures.

A group of executives including Bill Gates and Ballmer were inside. When Song Yang entered, Bill Gates was gathering with several people. When Song Yang saw the figures of those people, he was completely stunned. For a moment, I didn't expect these people to appear here.

Seeing Song Yang coming in, Bill Gates, who was rarely dressed in formal attire today, immediately walked over with a smile on his face, "Song, you are welcome, you can come, this Microsoft Developer Conference is the most worth celebrating thing! "

This is Song Yang's first meeting with the richest man. Bill Gates is very enthusiastic. Bill Gates, who is just 40 years old this year, is at the peak of his life. I don't know if it is because of the recent troubles. Bill Gates · Gates is a little less than he was in the media before, but he still looks like a big boss.

"Song, you must have heard of these few people," Bill Gates brought Song Yang into the circle just now, and introduced Song Yang to several people, "I think you all have heard of Bruno Song's name. , a real genius in the American technology industry, the Hotmail email is his handwriting, and now the Hotmail email has 1000 million users..."

"There are only more than 800 million!" Song Yang said "modestly" to the few people in front of him.

Song Yang and the people standing next to Bill Gates looked at each other, somewhat awkwardly, just like the AOL president Case in front of him. After Song Yang and Case looked at each other, they both looked away tacitly. Well, one is a die-hard "ally" of Netscape, and the other is someone who is considered to be a person from the "Netscape family", who appeared at the Microsoft conference, which is somewhat embarrassing...

In addition to embarrassment, there are also those who are curious, like Intel President Andrew Grove, who is quite curious about Song Yang.

What made Song Yang curious was that another person present, the former head of Apple and the founder of Apple, another rival of Microsoft, Steve Jobs also appeared here...

It was still a familiar figure in front of the camera, wearing a black top and a pair of jeans, who could appear in front of the camera at any time and began to "preach" to his followers.

Compared with Bill Gates, Jobs seemed a little taciturn, he just nodded with Song Yang, and then didn't say much.

Song Yang looked at Jobs, Case and others in front of him, and then thought of the SUN company that had just reconciled. Microsoft is really making changes. The current Microsoft reminds Song Yang of a certain penguin inexplicably.

Bill Gates and Microsoft are both in the process of transformation. The war with Netscape is quite similar to the 3Q war between a certain penguin and the leader in red. They both started a complete transformation after a big war.

And now Microsoft can reconcile with the deadly enemy. The developer conference invited the deadly enemy to the scene. Song Yang doesn't know how many conditions Microsoft used in exchange for it, but Microsoft is really changing its situation!

When Song Yang stood together with Bill Gates, Jobs, AOL President Keith, and Andrew Grove, the reporters in the rest area immediately pressed the shutter and took a picture of what may be another famous scene in the history of science and technology.

Coming here, no matter whether it is Song Yang, Case or Jobs, he must have made a decision in his heart long ago, so when facing the camera, he is calm and composed, without any discomfort.

When the developer conference opened, when Song Yang, Case and others surrounded Bill Gates and walked into the hall, the whole scene was quiet for a second, and then there was a loud noise.

This scene is really astonishing. A group of rivals of Microsoft actually stood together with Bill Gates to attend today's conference. The meaning behind this is really intriguing.

Although Bill Gates did not sit with Song Yang, Todd and other Microsoft executives sat beside Song Yang, which showed that Microsoft valued Song Yang.

No matter how it is in the Internet industry, in the software industry, Microsoft is still the undisputed empire. The Windows system is sold all over the world, so countless software development companies still dare not challenge Microsoft.

However, what is different from previous years is that today Microsoft is quite moderate, not as aggressive as in previous years' conferences. In the speeches of Bill Gates, Ballmer and others, they have repeatedly emphasized that Microsoft wants to cooperate with more developers. , and even proposed a win-win situation, whether it is true or not, the slogan has changed.

Then Jobs gave a speech on stage, and Song Yang knew why he came to this conference. Jobs, who had not yet returned to Apple, was here to promote his NEXT company.

In the past few years, life has not been very good for Apple. This year, it has suffered a huge loss of one billion dollars, and the stock price has almost fallen below ten dollars. But it is the same for Jobs. Difficult, applauded but not popular, NEXT wanted to sell the system and computer together, but the sales were dismal. Accepting Microsoft's invitation this time was also to advertise his NEXT computer platform.

Looking at Jobs on the stage, Song Yang didn't know if he was blowing the wind. It was rumored that Apple's board of directors, which was about to lose money, wanted to welcome the founder back. Now the American media was blowing the news.

Song Yang had some speculations, did Jobs stand for NEXT Computer, did he want to increase the valuation of NEXT, so that he could sell it to Apple when he returned to Apple, and get a high price, otherwise he would not have run to the press conference of his rival...

Todd, who was sitting next to Song Yang, went to Song Yang to hear and test Song Yang. This time, Song Yang accepted the invitation of Microsoft and came here, which made Microsoft also have some guesses about Song Yang's thoughts.

"Song, I know that the rumors about Microsoft from the outside world are not very good, but I can assure you that Microsoft absolutely supports its partners!"

Listening to Todd's nonsense, if Lotus and IBM, which have worked with Microsoft, heard this, would they spit on Todd? They also cooperated with Microsoft at the beginning, so don't be fooled too badly .

But at this time, Song Yang didn't come to settle those old scores with Microsoft. Hearing Todd's words, Song Yang seemed to agree with him and nodded, "The same is true here, whether it is double-click or Hotmail, for all collaborators , are all welcome, we will not target a certain opponent, this is not in line with the principle of openness and freedom of the Internet!"

Todd's heart skipped a beat when he heard this. He was both surprised and happy. He was surprised because he didn't know if Song Yang's words were fooling him. He was happy that if the IE browser could really cooperate with Hotmail, then It is equivalent to opening the door to the Internet!
"Song, are you really willing to let Hotmail also cooperate with IE browser?!" Suppressing the shock in his heart, Todd asked Song Yang closely.

Song Yang didn't play charades with Todd, "As I said, Hotmail welcomes any partner to join!"

"Even further cooperation is not impossible!"

Song Yang threw a bigger melon to Todd, and he was a little dizzy for a while. He didn't know if Song Yang's words were what he thought, but now these were enough to make him feel ecstatic.

"Song, I think the two of us should talk about it as soon as possible!"

Todd couldn't help raising his voice and said that he didn't want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This attracted the attention of many people on the side. Bill Gates and Ballmer also looked back here, wondering how Todd became so excited.

(End of this chapter)