I’m in Hollywood

Before 1995, although Microsoft had already shown a dominant position in the operating system software market, its annual turnover was actually only more than two billion US dollars, and its main competitor, Apple, had an annual turnover of more than one billion US dollars. In comparison, Microsoft does not have an absolute advantage. .(?.c〔o

At this time, in this small restaurant near the library of Harvard Business School, Bill Gates, who has calmed down, knows that although Yahoo is just a little sheep with little resistance to Microsoft at this time, this sheep Behind him stood a 'giant beast' that was even more ferocious than Microsoft at this time. Bill Gates' original tough stance quickly subsided, revealing the shrewd look that is often seen in business negotiations, saying: Airi Gram, I can consider your suggestion of pre-installing Internet Explorer as you just said.

It's going to be Yahoo Browser soon, as I'm sure you already know, I just integrated three companies.

Bill Gates was a little dissatisfied with Eric's sudden interjection, but patiently said: Well, Yahoo browser, if Yahoo browser wants to become pre-installed software, it must be in the form of permanent exclusive.

Although Eric is aware of the development trend of the operating system market in the next few years, the market share of Microsoft's Windows system is only % at present, and even the original one is still in heavy use. Of course, he can't reveal any clues in advance, shaking his head. : This is impossible. Being able to monopolize the latest technology of Yahoo's browser to achieve user diversion in the short term is already the biggest concession I can make. If you follow your suggestion, unless it can completely dominate the operating system market, Yahoo will give up automatically. The operating system platform that has passed % now. This is obviously impossible.

If you completely abandon other platforms at this time, it is equivalent to tying Yahoo's browser software to Microsoft. If Microsoft suddenly turns its face, Yahoo will be very passive. Microsoft's commercial credit in this area has never been very good.

Not yet. Even Bill Gates himself does not have the confidence to absolutely dominate the operating system market. Although he did not agree to Eric's words, he did not continue to refute, saying: I will consider this matter. However, it is impossible for Microsoft to let a company with A company that has nothing to do with it on its platform. If Yahoo browser wants to be pre-installed software, Microsoft needs to get at least % of Yahoo.”

Yahoo will choose next year. If you sell % of your shares to Microsoft, you will become Yahoo's largest shareholder, which is no different from selling Yahoo to Microsoft. ┟╡┟┠╡┟.\u003c. Moreover, Microsoft is now The asking price is far lower than my personal expectations. Eric originally planned to refuse to sell shares, but after saying this, a thought suddenly flashed in his mind, so he decided to throw Bill Gates a good bait: I can promise Microsoft to buy % of Yahoo's shares at most, but not now. It's a % stock option five years later. After five years, Microsoft can decide whether to buy or not to buy Yahoo in any way based on Yahoo's market value at the time. % of Yahoo!

Bill Gates quickly calculated that he was very optimistic about Yahoo, but he didn't believe that Yahoo could surpass Microsoft in five years.

Microsoft's internal estimate of the value of Yahoo Network is between $8 and $1 billion. Even if the best estimate is that Yahoo's market value will double in five years, Microsoft will only need about $100 million to acquire % of the shares. Taking Microsoft's annual market value growth of over % at this time, Microsoft's market value may rise to $100 million in five years. At that time, US$100 million was nothing to Microsoft. After taking % of Yahoo's equity, Microsoft could become Yahoo's largest shareholder as long as it operated on the public market. After that, it would be easy to take over the entire Yahoo in a hostile takeover.

Eric has been quietly paying attention to the changes in Bill Gates' expression, seeing that the other party's expression gradually relaxed, maybe even thinking of something good, and showing a smug smile, he knew that the door classmate had fallen into the pit.

I don't think there is anything wrong with my calculations. Bill Gates said: Eric, I can consider this point. In addition, Yahoo must open a part of the browser software patent license to Microsoft.

If you insist, of course there is no problem, Eric seemed to be very easy to talk, and continued to ask: Is there any more?

There are only these for the time being. If we think of others, we can make additions when we formally negotiate.

Okay, Eric said: Since your conditions are finished, let me talk about mine. If we can reach a cooperation, we can no longer consider details such as exclusive licensing fees. However, Yahoo! Guarantee that the Yahoo browser version on the platform will continue to be ahead of other platforms, but Microsoft must also guarantee that it will not launch its own browser software for five years.

Eric originally intended that some of Yahoo's technical software should be the first to rely on the platform for research, so to have the latest technology of Yahoo's browser, Yahoo itself does not even need to make any layout adjustments. Instead, it can be used as a bargaining chip. ', in exchange for some benefits. ═┝┟╞.﹝.

Bill Gates suddenly felt that Eric was still too young. As long as Yahoo entered the capital market, Yahoo would almost be Microsoft's possession after five years. Moreover, five years is enough for Microsoft to understand all the technical details of Yahoo's browser and develop alternative technologies. Even if things change, Microsoft can drive Yahoo's browser out of the platform without hesitation.

But as a shrewd businessman's natural prudence, Bill Gates still did not agree immediately. Although he felt that there was no serious problem, he still planned to take these terms to Microsoft's special strategic exhibition department to study the pros and cons. So he continued to say ambiguously: No problem, I can think about it.

Eric doesn't have as many calculations as Bill Gates, and he doesn't mind that Bill Gates's words are full of word games such as 'can be considered'. Anyway, both parties understand that before the final contract is signed in black and white, any Promises have no legal effect. And, Eric is very clear. Entering the new century, browser software will be used more as a vassal service of Internet giants. Compared with the 1990s, the role of the interface has been greatly weakened. not to mention. In the original time and space, even if Microsoft basically dominated the browser market in the early stage, and always occupied a large amount of market share, its own network business was still beaten by Yahoo, Google, Amazon and other companies in turn, and basically no profit was generated. Originally the best msn online service finally closed its doors.

The general intention of cooperation was confirmed. It was already dark outside the window, and the two parties did not intend to continue to stay in this small restaurant.

When saying goodbye, Bill Gates also hopes to visit Yahoo headquarters next year. Eric will entertain John Chambers and Steve Case tomorrow. Of course, he doesn't want his classmates to get involved. After two days.

Watching the Gates and his wife leave in the luxury car, Eric took a few steps to the quiet lawn next to him, touched his pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes. Pedestrians passing by. Still a little curious in his heart, he and Bill Gates have both revealed their identities, but they did not attract any onlookers, which was beyond his expectations.

Caroline, who had always been reluctant to leave, sat down next to Eric. She wanted to remind Eric not to smoke on campus, but seeing Eric seemed to be seriously thinking about things, she didn't bother. . Looking at the sparks dangling in Eric's hand, Caroline was a little worried that Eric would throw cigarette butts everywhere, but then she felt that if he waited to throw it away, she would help him pick it up. Think of something trivial to do for Eric. Her mood suddenly became much happier.

Eric recalled the negotiation with Bill Gates just now. Although the two parties have initially reached some cooperation intentions, the specific contract terms will definitely be adjusted in the future negotiation process, which is the biggest risk in this cooperation. It may be the % option clause, which is also the biggest bait that Eric threw to the door classmates. Of course, Eric can't think of things that Bill Gates can think about. However, after planning for more than two years in advance, and possessing the prophetic advantage of the reborn, if five years later take advantage of the east wind of the Internet wave. Yahoo's market value still can't reach the point where Microsoft is discouraged, so he will simply sell Yahoo and continue to go back to Hollywood.

As for other things, Eric didn't care too much. Bill Gates, who relies on software, was still most concerned about browser software at this time, and his classmates can also see that even if Yahoo browser is completely free, it can still be promoted properly. It has a very big promotion effect, so it will be eager to come to Yahoo in person before the sale. The facts of the original time and space have proved that the dominance of browser software does not bring much advantage to Microsoft's Internet business.

In other words, to choose to cooperate with Microsoft, in addition to wanting to take advantage of next year's Dongfeng to promote the Yahoo browser, Eric is mainly worried that Microsoft will rely on the market advantage of the Windows system to launch a new browser to create different technical standards, hindering the development of the Internet industry. In the original time and space, Microsoft's IE and Netscape browsers used the same kernel, and they still launched various peripheral technical standards respectively, resulting in a series of website incompatibility incidents. If Microsoft launches a new browser and a completely different web page decoding core, then this incompatibility will be even more serious. Eric does not want to have a technical standard war with Microsoft that lasts for many years, which will only hurt both sides.

Caroline's eyes swayed with the cigarette in Eric's hand, but saw that Eric suddenly turned his head, waved the cigarette that was about to burn out, and asked, Do you want to try it too?

Caroline shook her head quickly: No, I don't want it.

Eric smiled, got up and extinguished the cigarette butt in his hand, threw it into the trash can on the side of the road, and then said to Caroline: Which dormitory do you live in, shall I take you back?

Caroline's eyes flew into the entrance of the garbage can with the cigarette butt. She was stunned for a while. After hearing Eric's words, she turned her face and replied, I don't have a dormitory, I live in an apartment on the east side.

Following Caroline's guidance, Eric walked eastward and said, Why do you live outside, it's not safe for you to be a girl?

No, it's not me. I live with my classmates, and it's very close to the school.

Eric hummed and said nothing.

The two walked forward for a while before Caroline found another topic and said, Eric, why did you agree to sell % of Yahoo's shares to Microsoft, even five years later, it seems that the risk is too high. How big is it?

The market value of Yahoo in the original time and space was once close to 100 million US dollars. Eric believes that after integrating a series of plans in his memory, as long as the Internet wave comes as scheduled, there is absolutely no problem in doubling the market value of Yahoo in this time and space, even if it is only 100 million, when the time comes % of the shares are 100 million US dollars, which is equivalent to % of the market value of Microsoft at the highest point in the original time and space. Microsoft will definitely not be able to take out billions of dollars in cash. Eric remembers that in 1999, the turnover of Microsoft at the highest point of the Internet bubble in the original time and space was only It will be difficult to determine whether Bill Gates will be willing to exchange % of Yahoo's shares for % of Yahoo's shares. For Microsoft, it is equivalent to introducing a major shareholder to Microsoft, which will affect Bill Gates' control over Microsoft. Moreover, even if the transaction is successful, Eric will definitely not lose money. After all, it is an operating system platform that is about to achieve a monopoly. As long as it is not eliminated, Microsoft can continue to bring stable huge profits. As Bill Gates continues to reduce his holdings in Microsoft Stocks, Eric might even make Dangdang, Microsoft's largest individual shareholder.

Moreover, even if Microsoft did not encounter an anti-monopoly investigation in this time and space, according to the crazy degree of the Internet bubble at that time, the bubble will inevitably encounter the day when it bursts. After the burst of the Internet bubble, with the stock price of Internet companies plummeting, Eric can still use the funds cashed out during the bubble to easily complete the second Internet industry layout.

However, these are not things that can be told to the girl beside him. Eric just said casually: The greater the risk, the greater the reward.

Caroline only saw the risks with the information she had accumulated in her little brain. She didn't think Eric could gain anything from this transaction. However, imagining the series of miracles that Eric has created in just a few years, Caroline has no doubts about any of Eric's views, she thinks, she can't think of it, it must be too stupid.

Walking all the way, looking at the red brick apartment building in the Soldier Factory Community, Caroline felt more and more uneasy. She knew that if she didn't take the initiative to catch something, Eric would send her back, and she would definitely do it again. Disappearing from her own life, and thinking that she can only see him in some newspapers and magazines in the future, Caroline felt a little flustered, and after walking a few steps, the girl finally summoned up the courage, pulled Eric and said: Eric, you said in the restaurant just now that you would hire me as your personal assistant. (To be continued.)

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