Top of the Great Era

Chapter 3025 Help

"How about it?"

Sun Wanran sat next to Zhou Buqi and asked with concern.

Zhou Buqi smiled casually, "It's okay, it won't cause any big waves! As long as we can hold Microsoft back, there won't be any threats. The main competitor is still Microsoft."

Sun Wanran asked: "Can Hoffman really stand up to Bill Gates?"

"That's about right." Zhou Buqi still has confidence in Hoffman. "He has clear ideas, and with his status in the industry, there's no need for him to be afraid of Bill Gates. LinkedIn is the company he founded, so even if he's usually soft, he can still be tough."

Sun Wanran said worriedly, "Are you really going to hand over the initiative? I feel like the Americans are not very reliable."

Zhou Buqi smiled and said, "It's okay, I'll make a few more calls!"

It's still early.

Besides, even if it’s dark, there are night lights by the swimming pool.

The beauties in swimsuits are even more attractive at night.

Zhou Buqi lay back in a recliner, holding a glass of iced red wine, which tasted far worse than Coke. He found Ballmer's number and called him.

Ballmer has retired.

It's not busy now.

He is a veteran basketball fan and has been looking for an opportunity to buy an NBA basketball team and become the team owner.

"Zhou? Is there any news?"

Ballmer quickly answered the call, left his position as CEO, and felt relieved, without the need for his secretary to transfer the call.

Zhou Buqi smiled and said, "I do have some ideas. When you have time, you can go to Los Angeles. Maybe you will have a chance!"

"Ah?" Ballmer was very surprised, "The Los Angeles Lakers?"

Although the Los Angeles Lakers have not performed well in the past two years, they are a super team in the NBA and are extremely valuable. However, for a world-class billionaire like Ballmer, it is just a team, how expensive can it be?

It depends on whether they are willing to sell it.

Zhou Buqi said: "It's not the Los Angeles Lakers, it's the Los Angeles Clippers. I heard that the owner of the Clippers wants to withdraw his investment and exit the game. The Clippers have never made him any money."

"Clippers... Yeah, clippers will do too! Thanks for the help!"

Ballmer was also happy about this.

Although the Clippers cannot compare with the Lakers, it is after all a team in a big city. If they manage it well and spend more luxury tax to bring in some top stars, I believe that within a few years the Clippers can be built into a giant team that is no less powerful than the Lakers.

Just like Zhou Buqi's Golden State Warriors.

  It was originally a little-known club on the verge of bankruptcy, but after boss Zhou took over, it has undergone earth-shaking changes. It just won the NBA championship after more than 50 years under the leadership of Curry and Thompson!

Zhou Buqi smiled and said, "Okay, when are you free? I'll go with you!"

"That's great! It's an honor!" Ballmer was anxious to complete the deal during this holiday. "How about going to Los Angeles tomorrow?"

Zhou Buqi said: "Okay, tomorrow afternoon then."

"A word is settled!"

Ballmer was excited.

Zhou Buqi changed the subject and said, "By the way, I heard that Microsoft is going to make some big moves recently."

"Big move?" Although Ballmer is no longer the CEO of Microsoft, he is still on the board of directors of Microsoft and is an executive director. Therefore, he still has the right to know about Microsoft's core decisions. "You mean... the acquisition case?"

Zhou Buqi smiled and said, "Yes, it's that acquisition case. Is Microsoft really going to acquire LinkedIn?"

Ballmer remained silent. Zhou Buqi asked: "I want to know your attitude."

Ballmer has always been a conservative person. "I think Microsoft should focus on stability now and not make any big moves."

Zhou Buqi asked: "What's going on? I guess you should have heard about it. I have been communicating with LinkedIn privately for more than half a year. Seeing that all the agreements were about to be reached, Microsoft suddenly jumped out. I don't understand what this means."

Ballmer said frankly: "I don't agree with the acquisition, but the new CEO is eager to participate, and Bill Gates supports him."

Zhou Buqi said, "Then I hope you can communicate with Gates. I have been communicating with LinkedIn for half a year, and I will not give up halfway. After Ziweixing International completes its IPO, we will immediately start the acquisition, and no resistance will stop us. If Microsoft comes out to compete, I will get nothing except paying a higher acquisition cost."

Ballmer sighed, "I am against this."

Zhou Buqi smiled and said, "Okay, anyway, you already know what I mean. I'm just afraid that Bill Gates is overthinking. It's not easy for Microsoft to introduce a new CEO, so it's better for all parties to give support and affirmation. I also don't want to see him make mistakes continuously in the short term, and then step down in disgrace within a year or two, and Microsoft will have to look for a new CEO. What do you think?"

Ballmer paused for a moment and said, "I'll think about it."

Zhou Buqi said: "Okay, see you tomorrow!"

……

The so-called four major competitors are Microsoft, Google, Facebook and Salesforce, among which Microsoft is the most threatening.

Because Microsoft has no social business.

Therefore, we urgently hope to make up for this shortcoming strategically.

Coupled with Lingying's business attributes, it can greatly support the development of cloud computing business, which is in line with Microsoft's new CEO Nadella's core strategy of "mobile first, cloud first".

Second, it’s Google.

Google is very powerful, but now its social business is also doing well. It has acquired Twitter, and Google+ has been installed in Android phones of various brands under the strong promotion of Android. The installed base has exceeded 6 million, which is at the same level as Helo and Facebook.

It's just that the activity level is too low.

It is difficult for those apps that are bundled into users' mobile phones to compare with Helo and Facebook, which are chosen by users on their own initiative.

Google could be number two.

As for Facebook, that's unlikely.

Facebook is also developing its own business social products, which is a competitor to LinkedIn. Another point is that Facebook's businesses are all C-side businesses, not B-side businesses. The greatest strategic significance of LinkedIn is that it can empower, connect, reuse and integrate B-side businesses.

Without such strategic attributes, LinkedIn's value would be greatly reduced.

There is no long-term nature and neither side will be very enthusiastic about cooperation.

As for that Salesforce…

This is just a gimmick and can be ignored!

This is a cloud computing software company that focuses on B-side business. Its strength is average. It is a bit like a snake swallowing an elephant to swallow LinkedIn, which has a market value of more than 100 billion US dollars. Salesforce's business can indeed be well integrated with LinkedIn's business users, but Salesforce cannot be regarded as a strict Internet company at all. It is more like a software company.

Instead of selling LinkedIn to Salesforce, it would be better not to sell it and to find your own way out by being self-reliant.

So next, just deal with Google.

  We have to convince Google not to steal the show!

The next morning, Zhou Buqi went to Google's headquarters to find Larry Page.

As a result, Larry Page immediately started to complain, "You poached several of my artificial intelligence scientists?"

"That's not true!" Zhou Buqi didn't admit it at all. It was a bit against the rules to poach other people's core talents without saying hello. "They wanted to leave in the first place. Even if I didn't hire them, they were still snatched away by others!"