Back to 1995

Chapter 126
As for how to play the Internet, Microsoft has suffered so many beatings during this period of time, and it can be regarded as understanding.

At the current stage of the Internet industry, the IE browser has not been turned back, and it is not profitable at all. If it is not for the entry to the Internet, Microsoft will definitely not engage in this money-losing business.

Microsoft sent technicians to the team, and after asking some technical questions, Greg Maffey and Todd looked at each other, and finally said to Song Yang, "Song, Microsoft is willing to facilitate the cooperation between IE and Hotmail. For all Internet users, it is a blessing that they can be exempted from being exploited by Netscape’s monopoly and forced to accept Netscape’s high priced usage rights!”

Listening to these righteous words, the people around Song Yang resisted the urge to roll their eyes. Isn't this what computer users say to Microsoft? They are the ones who have suffered from the Microsoft system for a long time. It's because they are afraid that Microsoft is like a tiger, selling a computer, and paying Microsoft a lot of money for the pre-installation of the system.

In any case, the superficial work still needs to be done. After some great righteousness, it was after the declaration of fighting for Internet users that Greg Maffey finally began to quote, "Microsoft is willing to provide Hotmail mailboxes with a price of [-] million US dollars. , to acquire the entire equity interest in Hotmail mailboxes!"

It has to be said that Microsoft is indeed rich and powerful, and it directly spent [-] million US dollars when it came up. Even Greg, Irene, Wesley and others who were mentally prepared were shocked.

In the first half of the year, in order to attract investment for Double-Click, Song Yang had to suffer so much. In the end, he worked so hard to bring in tens of millions of dollars. This is already the Internet's largest investment in the first half of this year.

But in just over half a year, since Netscape went public and the Internet took off, the market has completely changed. Now there are only users, and Hotmail, which does not make money at all, is quoted at a price of [-] million U.S. dollars, which shows that the Internet is now hot!

Neither Song Yang nor Jotus was moved by this offer. The price is not low. If the deal is completed, it will also create a new record in the history of Internet acquisitions before the Internet has started large-scale acquisitions.

But with the Internet becoming increasingly crazy today, and Microsoft's current situation, how can it be worthy of this big dog if it doesn't kill it severely!

"If it's at this price, then Wang An Company is willing to directly acquire Hotmail mailboxes, or Netscape may be very interested."

Jotus of the old Jianghu, at this time, has begun to draw up hatred and sing a bad face. He knows his role today, which is to act as a price-raising tool that is too emotional.

As soon as Jotus said this, Greg Maffei and Todd were a little depressed, especially Greg Maffei, thinking of those years when they were dominated by Wang An Company, even if they knew that Jotus was doing it on purpose, they couldn't help it. I don't dare to bet that the Wang An company led by Jotus is buying companies everywhere, and it is really capable of buying Hotmail mailboxes.

As for being cut off by Netscape, it is even more unimaginable. Greg Maffey and Todd know that if they are cut off by Netscape at this juncture, what will Bill Gates do? I don't know, but there is a high probability that their careers as Microsoft executives will be forced to end.

At this time, Song Yang began to sing red faces, "IE browser, if you can get Hotmail mailboxes, you can get the support of 1000 million users, and it can surpass Netscape in terms of user scale!"

"At that time, Microsoft will be able to get the support of more developers, and will start to take the initiative in this war."

Greg Maffey and Todd whispered a few words in a low voice, and then spoke again, and they still spoke amazingly. They didn't pick up the decimal point with Song Yang, and directly raised the purchase price again, "[-] million US dollars , this is the highest price we can offer, if the price is higher, it needs to be decided by Microsoft's board of directors!"

Although he wanted to get Hotmail, Greg Maffei didn't want to be taken advantage of. The purchase price was too high, and he couldn't explain to the Microsoft board of directors.

"[-] million dollars!"

Song Yang gritted his teeth, and said a number that made Greg Maffey and Todd tremble, and Jobs, Irene, Greg and others were shocked.

But that's not all. What Song Yang said next made Greg Maffey and other Microsoft executives almost jump up.

"For 30 million U.S. dollars, the IE browser can get the local American brand of Hotmail, and the overseas Hotmail brand can be bound to the IE browser, and transfer [-]% of the equity to Microsoft to promote the IE browser."

When Jotus heard this, he immediately understood that Song Yang had split the Hotmail mailbox brand into two and sold the local American brand to Microsoft, but the overseas brand was still in his hands and he was not going to sell it. Give it to Microsoft, or say another slap in the face!

This knife method is simply too ruthless. With [-] million US dollars, you can only buy a local Hotmail American brand. Overseas brands have to pay more. If it is Jotus, it feels a bit painful, let alone Microsoft here.

Sure enough, upon hearing Song Yang's conditions, Greg Maffei and Todd almost didn't leave on the spot. They spent [-] million US dollars for the millions of users of Hotmail mailboxes. It's not about spreading it all over the world. The whole world knows how fast Microsoft's stupid money is coming.

"It's impossible, Song, Microsoft's board of directors will never agree to such an acquisition. Even Gates can't explain to the board of directors and Wall Street!"

Greg Maffei shook his head like a rattle, and he disagreed life and death. He said that Bill Gates was not qualified to agree to the acquisition of hundreds of millions of dollars. .

"This is not just an acquisition. Hotmail's entry into Microsoft's camp means that Double-Click will join hands with Microsoft. I will release another Internet product early next year. All of these mean that Microsoft has more allies in the Internet industry!"

"After the acquisition is completed, Double-Click can be responsible for the promotion of the IE browser. I think it may not take three years. Maybe next year, the market share of the IE browser will surpass Netscape!"

For a while, Greg Maffei started to feel a little tangled, while Todd was a little surprised and moved. If Double-click is really responsible for promoting the IE browser, take a look at the viral marketing of the Hotmail mailbox. Compared with being responsible for promoting IE I don't know how many times stronger it is to fight against the five slag marketing department.

What is also surprising is that Song Yang is planning to launch a new Internet product. He doesn't know what it will be, but he doesn't dare to guess randomly. Here, wouldn't it be the end of the calf again? One Netscape has made Microsoft hard enough, and another one, and Microsoft may be overwhelmed.

"I need to report to the board of directors of Microsoft. Song, are you sure that IE will surpass Netscape in market share?!"

Facing Netscape, Microsoft is now a little dazed. As long as it can kill Netscape, Microsoft is willing to try any method. If it costs a few hundred million dollars to clean up Netscape, it seems that it is not unacceptable to Microsoft...

Song Yang spread his hands, "With Microsoft's influence, if we can really let go of all concerns, of course we can defeat Netscape, or even make Netscape disappear completely, it depends on what step Microsoft wants to achieve!"

I mourned for Netscape in my heart, Song Yang is not trying to cheat it, a dead friend is not a poor man, Song Yang does not mind helping Microsoft release the ultimate form, such as free browsers, binding systems, etc., if Microsoft dares Well, if Netscape is down, you can also sue Microsoft. It can be said that it deserves to die. Not every company can set up a monument. Netscape deserves a monument...

Such a large acquisition, even if the speed is fast, it is impossible to complete it immediately. It is not easy to reach a preliminary agreement tonight.

"The building behind me is where Microsoft negotiated with Hotmail founder Bruno Song today!"

In front of the ICQ office building, a large number of reporters from the Netscape headquarters gathered here and kept reporting. Even though the limelight was not as great as the last time Microsoft went to Netscape, it still attracted much attention.

Especially when the media found out that Song Yang had just participated in the Microsoft Developers Conference. Today, the two presidents of Microsoft who are in charge of acquisitions and public relations led a team to negotiate with Song Yang. You can imagine with your toes that there must be something inside.

However, what the media reporters gathered downstairs did not expect was that until dark, there was no news. Some local media in Seattle also reported that Microsoft held an impromptu board meeting, but there was also no news.

However, there are more and more media and reporters gathered downstairs in ICQ. All the media have expected that there will be shocking news. The calmer the situation is, the more shocking the news will be.

On the contrary, it was Netscape that spread the news first. The heads of the three companies Netscape, Sun, and AOL stood in front of the camera together and announced to the outside world that this alliance spanning multiple fields in the technology industry was finally born!

"For Netscape, this is an important day. The agreement with Sun and AOL allowed Netscape to obtain the most advanced technology in the world. This agreement allowed Netscape to obtain the user market of AOL, which exceeded 700 million. AOL users will use Netscape's Navigator browser."

On behalf of Netscape, Baxter seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He represented Netscape with a smile on his face, telling the media how powerful this alliance is, and this alliance has the strength to destroy all opponents.

However, when Baxter was full of ambition, the media and reporters who were interviewing him suddenly received a piece of news. The reporter who saw the news first immediately held up the microphone and rushed to Baxter and asked, "Baxter President De, if I told you that Microsoft acquired Hotmail, what would you think?!"

(End of this chapter)