Media Tycoon since 1999

Chapter 337 The World of Antivirus Software
After the applause stopped, Zhang Xiaolong took the lead in speaking:

"Wool comes from pigs, Mr. Gao explained the business logic of the Internet incisively and vividly.

I agree with Mr. Gao's proposal to evaluate free antivirus software. Everyone knows that I am one of the beneficiaries of free software.

At that time, I created a free mailbox like foxmail by myself. I didn’t have any business thinking in my mind. Instead, I was used to standing in the perspective of a programmer, thinking about how to develop users, how to reach the level of top Outlook, and then feel that I Awesome, great sense of accomplishment.

Later, when Foxmail developed to a scale of 400 million users, its commercial value increased greatly, and Boda Company spent 1200 million to acquire it.

Since I joined 51 Group, I have witnessed the rapid development of our various project companies, and I am very moved.

The working atmosphere of 51 Company is very good, and it is very special among start-up Internet companies. It can be said to be unique, because 51 Group has strong cash flow support, and even closed the door to venture capital.

This is unimaginable in other early-type Internet companies..."

After praising Gao Yang for a few words, Zhang Xiaolong switched back to the antivirus software:
"I know a few friends in the anti-virus software circle, and I have some understanding of this market.

Among the domestic brands, Ruixing is the absolute leader, with a high status in the world. At its peak, its market share in the stand-alone version once exceeded 60%.

From desktop-level antivirus software, personal firewalls, to antivirus software and firewall products for small and medium-sized enterprises and large enterprises, there are everything, and the product line is very complete.

Ruixing's anti-virus software has also been sold to overseas markets such as Europe, America, Japan and Australia.

In 1998, there was a CIH virus. It was terrible. The editing skills of the virus were so powerful that it could destroy the motherboard’s BIOS chip. Then it would break out on April 4 every year, and usually lurk in the system.

A few years before 98, Ruixing earned a lot of money by making anti-virus cards in the early years. Then he heard that he was engaged in real estate, and fell into a big stumble. Later, he started to make desktop anti-virus software.

After the CIH virus came out, everyone lined up to buy anti-virus software, and Ruixing quickly revived with full blood.

At that time, Ruixing’s antivirus software sold for 260 yuan a piece in the terminal store, and the price it gave to the channel dealer was 20 yuan. The software store sold a piece of Ruixing antivirus software and could earn 200 yuan. Naturally, it vigorously promoted it to customers.

Ruixing's anti-virus software became popular immediately, and soon, the ex-factory price was raised to about 80 yuan.

In the era before Ruixing, the market leader in antivirus software was actually Jiang Ming, and Jiang Ming's KV series was so well-known that there was no need to promote them at all.

Ruixing took advantage of the opportunity of the CIH virus to develop, and then became very good at channels and marketing, and soon surpassed Jiang Ming.

Then in 1999, Jingshan, who started out as a WPS and PowerWord, also started to make personal antivirus software. Jiang Ming was not interested in the battle between the rivers and lakes, because it was famous, the market was big enough, and it lived well.

However, Ruixing has always wanted to crush Jingshan Software, a new entrant, to death. The two companies have been fighting for several years, and Ruixing has always had an absolute advantage, but failed to crush Jingshan to death.

In 2002, Jingshan launched a marketing campaign called 'Blue Security Revolution', trying to sell its Duba for 50 yuan for 50 days, which was a price war with Ruixing.

With the help of this marketing campaign, Jingshan got up very quickly. The two founders of Ruixing had different ideas on how to deal with Jingshan's price war, and there was a fierce conflict.

One wanted to follow up and cut prices to fight a price war with Jingshan, while the other didn't want to, so they broke up directly.

It was Wang Xin who wanted to fight a price war, and Liu Xu who was unwilling to fight a price war. Later, Liu Xu quit Ruixing and founded Dongfang Weidian Software Company, focusing on products that block malware.

Therefore, in China's current antivirus software market, apart from a few big overseas brands, there are three domestic brands, Ruixing, Jiangming and Jingshan.

In the desktop antivirus software market, domestic brands occupy an absolute market share, which is basically a three-country killing pattern. Among them, the mutual blog between Ruixing and Jingshan is the focus, and it is very strong.

When I talk about these antivirus software, I want to introduce the basic background of this industry that I know.

Our 51 Group wants to enter this market, and we are doing free anti-virus software. If we directly acquire a company, we can naturally choose Ruixing, Jiangming and Jingshan, but the price will definitely be high.

However, there is another option, which is to acquire Weidian Software founded by Liu Xu.

At the beginning, Liu Xu didn't want Ruixing to fight a price war with Jingshan, so he fell out with his partner Wang Xin, and even had a big conflict.

Weidian Software is currently in a difficult period, and it is because it has fought fiercely with Ruixing.

In December last year, Guardian Software was reported to maliciously spread viruses, causing several companies to be infected with the virus. This matter has been going to court, and Guardian Software has been publicly complaining, saying that it was framed by competitors.

The reality is that Weidian Software is very difficult. The company was once sealed up, and the employees were detained. There was no time to write programs or make products.

If we cooperate with Guardian Software, our cost is the lowest, and Liu Xu is actually a very powerful person in terms of technology. He is an expert from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and has participated in the 863 Project.

The last option is naturally to set up our own project team and become an antivirus software company, but the speed of this solution will be slower..."

Jin Yang smiled and said, "I never thought that an antivirus software market would be so full of quackery."

Wu Bo said with a smile: "The prosperity of the world is all for profit, and the hustle and bustle of the world is for profit."

Gao Yang asked: "What do you guys think of Brother Long's suggestion just now?"

He Guangwen said: "If we can cooperate with the Guardian software mentioned by Brother Long, it may be the best choice. We can get a technical team to quickly develop our own anti-virus software, and the cost is relatively low."

Fang Jiandao: "I also agree to negotiate with Guardian Software first."

Then, many other people felt that they could try to get in touch with Weidian software first.

Gao Yang looked at Zhang Xiaolong: "Brother Long, the founder of Weidian Software, do you know this technical expert with a background in the Chinese Academy of Sciences?"

Zhang Xiaolong said: "It's considered acquaintance, but I'm not familiar with Liu Xu. I have friends who are more familiar with him. I also listened to friends talking about these things."

Gao Yang said again: "You just said that this Liu Xu broke up with his partner when he was in Ruixing because he didn't agree to fight a price war with Jingshan. Could he be interested in making free products? "

Zhang Xiaolong said with a smile: "Mr. Gao, I personally think that Weidian Software is currently in difficulty, and Liu Xu may choose to cooperate with 51 Group.

In addition, Weidian software was only officially established this year, and Ruixing probably wanted to stamp out Weidian, which completely caused the enemy to meet each other.

I suggest that Mr. Gao come forward in person and talk to Liu Xu. "

Gao Yang nodded: "Okay, if I can make an appointment with this expert, I can go and have a talk."

Zhang Xiaolong said: "Ask Liu Xu to meet, I'll ask a friend for help, it's probably not a big problem..."

(End of this chapter)