Investment Life

Although Xiao Yun was promised to return to Beijing to participate in the board of directors of Xinxin, Chen Yuanming was finally caught off by another matter. Just in mid-January, a long-awaited olive branch was finally delivered to him.

AOL invited Netscape to cooperate.

The weight of this invitation is considerable. You should know that AOL is now one of the top Internet access providers in the United States. In the era of dial-up Internet access, it basically represents the credentials for logging in to the Internet. The browser is the computer's gateway to the Internet. Today, this gate is controlled by Netscape. Last year, Netscape's market share exceeded 75%, ranking the top of the Internet world.

It can be said that these two companies are today's top Internet companies and the first wave of winners who have tasted the sweetness of online gold mining, but this advantage cannot be intoxicated because they also have a common and powerful enemy: Microsoft.

Although the potential of the Internet has not been noticed in time, Microsoft's famous "imitation crushing" method is unmatched by anyone. When Netscape went public last year, Microsoft launched its own web browser, interexp1orer, and the online service msn also greatly threatened the presence of AOL. Today's Microsoft is not a small company with an infamous reputation ten years ago. The release of win95 directly made it crush all the enemies who dared to stand in front of him and became an indomitable beast.

With a common enemy, an alliance of interests is naturally essential. But for Netscape, this alliance does not seem to exist in their consciousness. The market share of Netscape browser is too high. Hotmai1 and icq bring him more than just a tiger. AOL is a typical consumer company, which runs counter to the technical characteristics of Netscape. This difference has led to different opinions within Netscape, and not most of them agree with this cooperation.

A company's original character and choice tend to be almost innate. Like a company's DNA, it is a formula rooted in the minds of every veteran. The reason why Netscape became Netscape is precisely because of its strong and arrogant technical level. This arrogance can make him rush to the edge when he is first involved in the Internet, or he can become blind and reckless and want to be single A giant like Microsoft. It is admirable courage to challenge the dragon like Don Quixote, but it is not in the interest of businessmen. Not even in line with Chen Yuanming.

Netscape is great, but the company is too weak today, and the $ 700 million in cash on Microsoft's books is enough to annex it countless times. In order to compete for the Internet access, Microsoft invested 200 million US dollars at a time. When the Windows system began to bind the Internet Explorer browser hard and all browsing software on the market became a free product, what value did this Netscape have? To know the future, no one will pay for the browser.

Therefore, approaching the big tree of AOL is an effective way for it to avoid facing Microsoft. But trying to convince stubborn Netscape executives is not so easy. Fortunately, at this time, the preparations that have been made have yielded ideal fruits.

Just two months ago, SoftBank and Dianjinshi made a deal. Chen Yuanming exchanged his Yahoo shares for Netscape shares in Softbank. For SoftBank, this is a bargain sale. On the one hand, it is his demand for control of Yahoo. On the other hand, because Microsoft has just announced its own Internet plan, it has increased its investment in Internet Explorer, and has officially opened the Internet. Jing offensive. This tough attitude once caused Netscape stocks to be frustrated, many smart people chose to do a wall view, and even fell into the ground.

But Chen Yuanming didn't. As an angel investor in Yahoo and the biggest beneficiary of the rising superstar, he eventually gave up his Yahoo stock for Netscape. Such a persistence, and the considerable benefits brought by hotmai1 and icq, finally moved these stubborn technicians. Chen Yuanming is an investor who can communicate and trust, and a shareholder who really values ​​the potential of technology. Even in Silicon Valley, such good shareholders are extremely rare.

For this trust, Netscape executives will naturally carefully consider Chen Yuanming's suggestions. What really made them succumb was the operation mode of icq.

"So far I haven't paid for icq, because it is free, it has occupied more than 87% of the instant messaging market. My capital is not strong, and even the main business is not on the Internet. I can still maintain the operation and research and development of such a company , Will Microsoft, which is inevitable for the Internet, take the same approach and even bundle Internet Explorer into its own system? "

This is a question that does not need to be answered. Most of the people here are from Silicon Valley. They know Microsoft's nature and past style, and they also understand the catastrophic consequences that this can bring. Even if there are antitrust laws, can they survive the day they win the lawsuit?

"And the more important point is that Netscape can occupy more than 9o% of the browser market, but after occupying these markets? Is it hard to work for 1oo%? No, when the market exceeds 7o%, try harder. It ’s not important anymore. It ’s the only key to open up new ways to make money. Now our technology is very powerful, but not profitable. The real core of the browser is not in our hands. It is not just a pure software It ’s like using a computer to run the operating system and connecting to the Internet must also go through a browser. This is the root of Microsoft ’s commitment to crushing Netscape. The era of the personal computer is nearing completion, and the next era belongs to the Internet, and browsing The key is everything. "

"AOL can bring us more influence and advertising revenue, and we can give him a broader development prospect. This is a win-win situation, and it also challenges Microsoft's greatest possibility. What we need now is not blindly advance, It's about building a solid fortress to secure the gains. So I suggest everyone to put down their pride and stubbornness and think about the future of Netscape. What do we want? An unparalleled browser software, It is also a company that controls the Internet portal platform, and is also an Internet giant like our current enemy, Microsoft. "

Chen Yuanming is not a pure Silicon Valley person, but these words are insightful Silicon Valley theories. The answer that Netscape chose was no suspense.

On January 29, at a speed of almost lightning, Netscape and AOL reached an agreement. Netscape browser officially became AOL's default browser, providing it with a high-quality service platform. Load AOL quick links. AOL provides exclusive sales channels for Netscape, and uses its own customer base and advertising channels to strive for the best interests of Netscape.

As soon as the news came out, the stock prices of Netscape and AOL both raised their horns against Microsoft.

auzw.com After all this is done, when Chen Yuanming returns to China again, the board of directors of Anxin has come to an end. Missing the agenda completely, Xiao Yun couldn't blame the tired young man in front of him, but he just patted him on the shoulder.

"Every time I see you busy with this virtue, I am ashamed to tell you something ..."

"Well, my uncle, your capitalist habits are getting heavier and he has to take the dividends into account." There is a joke in his mouth, but Xiao Junyi's eyes have a little concealed concern.

Chen Yuanming and his uncle chuckled and smiled. "It's a good thing to be able to divide without effort. It's a good thing for Anxin. Do you double the performance this time?"

"It has expanded to more than 4o prefecture-level cities in 7 provinces." Xiao Yun also smiled. "Nothing to say. This year, your division is 10 million yuan. Is it enough to spend?"

This number is a dividend, and now Chen Yuanming ’s 5% stake in Anxin has become a huge amount unimaginable by ordinary people, and it will swell gradually with the development of Anxin.

"It can be used to buy a new house." Chen Yuanming smiled calmly and could not see any surprised expression, leaving Xiao Yun very unfulfilled.

Hearing this, Xiao Junyi's eyes brightened, "Well, don't say, recently there seems to be news of a villa over Xishan, go and order one over there, it is a good place for a relaxing holiday."

"This is also true." Xiao Yun did not refute. "Our family also has the idea of ​​buying a few new homes in Xishan. After all, it is relatively close to the old man's dry rest house. You can live there and take care of it."

It is estimated that it would be more convenient to steal love.

Ignoring Xiao Junyi's shining eyes, Chen Yuanming replied with a smile, "I already had the idea of ​​buying a villa in Xishan, and I will think about it later."

"Okay, that's not the important thing for Anxin. I'll ask people to sort out the meeting materials. If there is a need to add a proposal, just send it to me. As for Hongshang, the handheld computer has just been listed and the sales volume is still Before the statistics are completed, it is estimated that the meeting will not be held until the Spring Festival. By then, you, the major shareholder, will not be able to escape. "

"I understand." Chen Yuanming's answer was even more straightforward this time. There was no way. The memory card was under Feiyan's hand. He is a double shareholder who can't even run away.

Seeing how Chen Yuanming covered up his tiredness, Xiao Yun shook his head. "What about these two days? Are you going to go straight home or stay in Beijing for two more days?"

"Stay there for another two days, just to deal with some private affairs."

"Oh? Would you like to help?" Xiao Yun squinted at the nephew sitting next to him, and saw that the boy was leaning in his seat leisurely, showing no clue. He came back to hear this time, the relationship between the two people seemed to be closer, and he couldn't help but bring a little bit of heart in his heart, but when they met, they felt that the two were more natural to get along with each other. No doubt.

"It's not a big deal just to meet a few old friends." Chen Yuanming smiled and answered frankly.

Xiao Junyi's peach eyes were squinting, old friend? There don't seem to be many "friends" in Beijing ...

"Haha, that line, you can relax and go back to the house to sit back when you have time." Without seeing any problems, Xiao Yun naturally relaxed his heart, and laughed and talked with Chen Yuanming for a few moments before letting go People go home to rest. Without taking any chance of close contact, Xiao Junyi lowered his eyes slightly and set up a small abacus in his heart.

(End of this chapter)