Back to 1995

Chapter 488 Weathervane

Facing the aggressive Federal Department of Justice, Orrin Hatch's attitude today has already explained everything. If Bill Gates and Microsoft backed down from the beginning, it is estimated that they will lose even their underwear in the end.

And if you are extremely tough from the beginning, you may still have a chance, just like two people haggling for a price, the other side will ask for a hundred, if you give it directly, then maybe he will get more, otherwise, just reject him directly After a while, give in slowly, and in the end, you can't say no, you only need to give half of it to the other party, or even less, and the matter can be resolved!
The same is true for Microsoft. If Bill Gates admits defeat today, it is estimated that Microsoft will never escape the fate of being split.

Now that Microsoft is getting tougher and harder on Orin Hatch, put it in the back. Bill Gates bowed his head to Orrin Hatch and admitted his mistake, so that Orrin Hatch can get back his face, which is enough for Orin Hatch in Amy In front of the Liga people, he made a big contribution.

Microsoft may be able to get rid of the fate of being split. Although it may pay a huge price for this, it is much more cost-effective than breaking it into pieces.

Microsoft's strategy is to advance as a retreat. If you have to compare it, it can only be the performance of the Italian Army during World War II when they played against England. If the opponent does not accept surrender, then fight until the opponent accepts...

After watching this hearing, Song Yang is no longer paying attention to Microsoft's affairs. If he didn't beat Bill Gates and Microsoft to death today, and didn't let Bill Gates admit in court that Microsoft has a monopoly, then this matter will be dragged on Now, it is likely to become a lawsuit that lasts for several years, which is beneficial to Microsoft, and the longer it drags on, the more beneficial it is to Microsoft.

When Irene and the others heard Song Yang's words, they quickly understood what Song Yang meant. This could also explain why Bill Gates, who had reached middle age, was acting so arrogant today.

What Song Yang can see, the old foxes in Silicon Valley and Wall Street can naturally understand it. They know that it is impossible to overthrow Microsoft in a short time. The computer and software industry will still be shrouded in Microsoft. Under the shadows, in a short period of time, the pattern of the technology industry will not change!
In Washington, after the hearing ended, Jim Clark sat alone in the lounge next to the hearing hall. The rest of the people had already left, but Jim Clark never left.

The lounge door was pushed open, and Mark Anderson walked in. When Jim Clark saw Mark Anderson, there was a little anticipation in Jim Clark's silent eyes.

Mark Anderson shook his head slowly, looking at Jim Clark, who had already had gray hair in just over half a year, he knew that the document that made Microsoft invest was just an unintentional act at the beginning. If Jim Clark knew, he would With today's scene, that faxed document would definitely not be sent, but Mark Anderson couldn't help but sigh.

Today's hearing will not have a fatal impact on Microsoft's entire antitrust case, but it will serve as a weathervane, but it is clear that today is a bad start.

"Orrin Hatch didn't agree to your request to meet Jim, but..."

Mark Anderson comforted Jim Clark, "Orrin Hatch promised that the Department of Justice will continue to sue Microsoft for monopoly and split Microsoft into two companies. Netscape still has a chance!"

Hearing this, Jim Clark could feel Orrin Hatch's disappointment. Jim Clark sighed. He didn't expect that Microsoft would be able to come up with something a few years ago, so that Netscape's testimony would all change. less believable.

"Maybe, it's time to end!"

Jim Clark smiled wryly, and turned to his most satisfied disciple, Mark Anderson, whom he once regarded as the next generation master.

"Jim, we still have a chance. Today Compaq, Sun, and Oracle have all testified for Netscape. Microsoft has indeed monopolized, and Netscape still has a chance!" Mark Anderson hurriedly said to Jim Clark.

Mark Anderson, as a digital hero in Silicon Valley, is considered a symbol of Netscape, but it is Jim Clark who is really at the helm of Netscape. If he lets go, Netscape really has no chance.

Jim Clark waved his hand and looked at the anxious Mark Anderson, "Even if Netscape wins this lawsuit, does the Internet still belong to Netscape?!"

Listening to Jim Clark's words, Mark Anderson was silent for a while, unwilling to admit it anymore, but Anderson still knew that the Internet had changed. In the past few years when Netscape and Microsoft have been fighting each other in the browser industry, Silicon Valley has already been turbulent.

The limelight of the Internet has already shifted from the original browser concept to portal websites, instant messaging, e-commerce, etc., especially a certain guy, even played new concepts such as Internet games, electronic payment, and Netscape, I missed it all...

"At the beginning, Netscape was a portal for users to enter the Internet through a browser, but now?"

Jim Clark shook his head and sighed, "The Internet already has too many channels. Even without Netscape, there are still Yahoo, ICQ, and AOL. Netscape is no longer irreplaceable, especially Bruno Song, And even made a mobile browser!"

Hearing Jim Clark's words was like piercing the last layer of window paper. These problems that Mark Anderson was unwilling to face also appeared before his eyes again.

Jim Clark stood up and patted Mark Anderson on the shoulder, "I'm going to complete the sale of Netscape before Christmas. As long as it doesn't sell to Microsoft, Netscape will be sold to whoever pays the highest price. Already talked to Bruno Song, he will support the sale of Netscape!"

Regrouped and ready, Jim Clark, who made a big move at the end, swept away the decline and was ready to find a big wronged buyer for Netscape.

Mark Anderson sat there, feeling a little numb for a moment. Jim Clark made a decision, and Anderson knew that Netscape would definitely be sold.

In just a few years, Netscape has gone through its initial establishment, its listing, and its current sale. It may take decades for others to experience everything, but Anderson has experienced it all within a few years.

Anderson knew that after Netscape was sold, his worth would definitely not be affected, but seeing the Netscape he built with his own hands sold just like this, it still made Anderson feel disappointed.

I'm afraid no one would have thought that a hearing on Capitol Hill would decide the fate of two technology giants!
The next day, the major technology and financial media were almost all reports on yesterday's hearing, and most of them were critical of Microsoft. Anyway, when the media mentioned Microsoft, they basically had nothing good to say.

This time is no exception. Phrases such as "Bill Gates ignores the hearing" and "Mr. the richest man is arrogant" have appeared in major media, and they all think that Bill Gates and Microsoft are too arrogant.

"The Federal Department of Justice announced that it will continue to litigate the Microsoft monopoly case. In the future, Microsoft may be split into two different companies!"

The Washington Post also released news on the front page, which is basically the opinion of the Federal Department of Justice, and continues to chase after Microsoft.

"Bill Gates is facing the most serious accusation in America. If the Sherman Act is officially implemented against Bill Gates, the richest man in the world may change hands!"

Various tabloid media are also reporting continuously, and various alarmist rumors are constantly appearing. For example, once Microsoft is split, Bill Gates will face huge fines, and he will end up with nothing.

The news of these obvious tabloids is not low in popularity. The more you say that Bill Gates is miserable, the higher the sales. Regardless, Bill Gates personally holds Microsoft shares, which are pitifully small, even the entire The Gates family, as well as various foundations control Microsoft Tiger's equity, which is only about ten percent.

Even without Microsoft, with so many years of investment, Bill Gates is still the richest man in the world. Bill Gates' investment outside of Microsoft has long exceeded his share of Microsoft.

When the outside world focused on various news about Bill Gates and Microsoft, PayPal did not stop and continued to pull people's heads.

Most of the bank stocks in America are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Since the launch of PayPal, the bank stocks on the New York Stock Exchange have begun to plummet, making people who believe in Buffett’s value investing and conservative investors feel that they are Scolding.

In the past few years, technology stocks have dominated the world. Nasdaq stocks such as the Internet, telecommunications, and computer software have skyrocketed. Traditional stocks, except for Enron, which has created "technological energy", are ignoring the Internet, telecommunications, and so on. The concept is that the stock prices of energy companies that are constantly making new names are soaring, while the rest of oil, natural gas, banks, insurance, etc. are not doing well.

After the opening of the market today, small and medium-sized bank concept stocks, including small and medium-sized banks such as Alliance Bank, Bank of Hawaii, and Estor, all dived collectively again. Among them, Prosperity Bank headquartered in Houston was the worst. Today, the market opened with a straight dive of 17%, and it has fallen by more than 45% in the past few days!

In just a few days, the market value fell by half, and all major investment institutions cleared their stocks of Prosperity Bank. I don’t know if other banks can survive, but anyway, Prosperity, who is fighting for food in the same slot as PayPal, Ritty Bank, probably enough...

As bank stocks fell, numerous investors on the New York Stock Exchange saw the news about PayPal on the Bloomberg machine. PayPal officially invited more than 630 companies engaged in cross-border trade to enter the PayPal platform. PayPal promised to exempt them from 3 Monthly transaction fees, it is estimated that these trading companies will bring PayPal a transaction volume of more than 26.7 billion US dollars within three months!

This is killing one thousand enemies and losing eight hundred. PayPal would rather not earn handling fees, but also grab these companies, but the unlucky ones are these small banks. PayPal didn’t earn handling fees, so they can throw them away. It is a big customer with more than one million or even tens of millions of dollars.

"This is malicious competition, which completely disrupts the market order. It is worse than the Microsoft antitrust case. The director of the Louisiana State Financial Office made dissatisfaction with PayPal!"

(End of this chapter)