Back To 1995

  Chapter 990 One small move affects the whole body

Case, who had already retired and didn't care about AOL and Time Warner anymore, when he heard the news, the TV remote control in his hand fell on the ground, and he didn't even notice it. He only felt a "buzz" in his head. .

  Even if he didn't mind, when he heard that Song Yang was going to let ICQ acquire AOL Time Warner, Case was still a little dazed.

   It's like a cub who has been raised by himself for more than ten years, and is suddenly taken away by someone one day, and has nothing to do with him from then on. I'm afraid no one can be nervous!

AOL is Case's hard work. Regardless of cutting leeks, Case's career has indeed devoted all his efforts to AOL. AOL at the peak of the Case era before kicked Microsoft and punched Netscape. , worshiped with Sun Company, and even competed with Song Yang for the position of Internet chief rudder.

   As a result, now that Case has just retired, AOL will be taken away by someone, and even Case will have to pay for his pension in the future, which makes Keston feel aggrieved for a long time.

   For a moment, Case wanted to pick up the family shotgun and shoot Jerry Levine and the current AOL Time Warner gang!

   "Is the news true?" Case asked Leon Sis with a hoarse voice.

Even if Case's face is calm now, Leon Heath can feel Case's anger and unwillingness, not only Case, Leon Heath is the same, when Case was still in office, he was an executive of AOL Time Warner, One step away from being able to enter the board of directors, but now, he can only sit on the bench and wait for retirement.

  "Jerry Levine is holding a board meeting, but I heard the news that he may start negotiations with ICQ soon. Jerry Levine declared that this is his last battle before retirement!

  Richard Parsons did not support the negotiations, but the board of directors, including Ted Turner, voted to support Jerry Levine's decision! "

   "call"

  Case let out a long sigh of relief, and lay down on the sofa a little dejectedly. He couldn't help recalling the most beautiful scene when he was in AOL in his mind, but everything was like the clouds and smoke in the past, and the wind blows away...

  If Jerry Levine was around, Case would still have a chance to return to AOL, but when AOL Time Warner was in the hands of Song Yang, Case knew that he had no chance at all.

Even, whether the brand of AOL can still exist in the future is probably unknown. Once AOL disappears, Case will completely disappear from everyone, and it can only exist in the memoirs of some big figures in Silicon Valley. People, there used to be the character of Case!

  "I know that this decision will cause a lot of controversy, but I need to be responsible for AOL Time Warner and the investors who bought AOL Time Warner. Now is the time to make a change!"

Jerry Levine suddenly released rumors in the media, which attracted a lot of discussion from the outside world. I don’t know what Jerry Levine wants to do. Various rumors are everywhere. There are rumors that Jerry Levine will split AOL, AOL Time Warner There are also various kinds of speeches about bankruptcy and reorganization.

   This caused the stock price of AOL United to jump up and down today. Wall Street institutions that originally shunned AOL Time Warner also rushed towards Time Warner like a shark smelling fishy.

  "ICQ announced that it will issue a new issue of long-term bonds with a total value of more than 7.8 billion US dollars, and will issue 31 million new shares to raise more than 3.5 billion US dollars. ICQ has not yet indicated the purpose of raising funds!"

   "America Telecom and Wells Fargo reached a loan agreement of up to 8.3 billion dollars. This is the largest loan after America Telecom was spun off from ICQ!"

   "Informed sources revealed that Western Films is seeking a large-scale loan from the Bank of America, Wall Street investment banks, and overseas investment consortiums as collateral against Universal Pictures!"

  When AOL Time Warner's statement here caused a lot of discussion in the media, some media broke the news that ICQ, American Telecom, Western Pictures and other companies are frantically raising dollars, and they are obviously ready to do big things!

   At this time, if Wall Street institutions still can't guess what's going on, then don't mess around!

   "ICQ is going to buy Time Warner!"

  "The mergers and acquisitions of giants are back again, and ICQ will acquire giant companies again!"

   "The era of Internet madness is over?"

   "The marriage of the century, the merger of ICQ and Time Warner, is it an empire or a quagmire?!"

The media in the American financial industry almost started to report on the marriage between ICQ and Time Warner. Affected by this news, ICQ’s stock price fell a lot that day. Obviously, many people are not optimistic about this transaction. After all, AOL can’t handle it. Time Warner, in the end, completely ruined himself, can ICQ handle it? !

On the contrary, the stock price of AOL Time Warner has risen sharply, especially the Wall Street institutions that have suffered miserably from AOL Time Warner are also looking forward to it. If ICQ takes over Time Warner, they will more or less be able to recover their capital, which is a mess. They don't have to worry about financial fraud lawsuits, debt problems, etc. after leaving it to ICQ.

   "funk!"

   "Mark, Song really wants to buy AOL Time Warner, and Netscape will also be in his hands?!"

   After receiving the news, Jim Clark hurried to the original Netscape headquarters building. This was the first time he returned to his hometown after selling Netscape.

  The huge Netscape LOGO in front of the Netscape building was originally a landmark building where Netscape and Microsoft were fighting each other, but it has long since disappeared, replaced by the LOGO and logo of Siebel Automobile.

After Netscape sold it to AOL at a sky-high price of 4.7 billion US dollars, the headquarters building was completely idle. Later, this building was bought by Song Yang and served as the development base of Siebel's automotive software department. Mark Anderson also continued to sit here and work.

  Looking at Jim Clark who broke into the door, Anderson was familiar with it, and even guessed that he would run over.

   "Not necessarily. It depends on how far Song has talked with AOL Time Warner. Of course, Netscape may be on the acquisition list!"

   Jim Clark is no stranger here. After all, he has stayed in the place for several years. He found the drink on his own, poured a large glass, and walked back and forth in the office for a few steps.

   "Netscape has never died. If ICQ acquires Netscape, then the browser industry may not be dominated by Microsoft IE!"

  Although Microsoft got rid of the antitrust lawsuit, and even reached a settlement agreement with AOL Time Warner representing Netscape, the two Liangzi have been put down.

But would Jim Clark and Anderson, who used to fight for Netscape and Microsoft, be willing? Even after retiring, Jim Clark couldn't sit still when he saw the news that Netscape was going to change hands, and even gave birth to some other Thoughts, if Netscape and IE were in the browser industry, what would happen if there was a second battle? !

   "Song, I won't support restarting the Netscape browser!"

Mark Anderson poured cold water on Jim Clark. Although he, like Jim Clark, was a little worried about Netscape's defeat by Microsoft, he also knew whether to revive the Netscape browser or whether to cooperate with Microsoft again. It's not up to them to decide the fight between IE browsers, only Song Yang can decide these things.

   "shit!"

   Jim Clark cursed, and said unwillingly, "What is Song thinking, this is the best opportunity. Microsoft, which has just finished the anti-monopoly lawsuit, dares to use the method of bundling the IE browser with the Microsoft system?!"

   "Song You ICQ, PayPal, Wikipedia, Xueleshan Game Platform, Fortinet Antivirus, eBay, Amazon, can definitely kill Microsoft IE!"

  Jim Clark even thought out a way for Song Yang. With the Internet resources in Song Yang's hands, within a few days, he could attract hundreds of millions of users for Netscape.

In addition, the current commander-in-chief and Capitol Hill are all members of the party. If Microsoft dares to use the same method it used to deal with Netscape to deal with Song Yang, I am afraid it will really be broken into pieces. They are all on Song Yang's side!

Hearing Jim Clark's words, Anderson was also a little moved, but in the end he shook his head. He understood Jim Clark's thoughts. He didn't care about Netscape, but he was unwilling. What he couldn't get was the most throbbing, Jim Clark Unwilling to lose to Microsoft, want to win the opponent!

   "Song already has the Firefox mobile browser. In the computer browser industry, he may not compete with Microsoft anymore, even if he gets Netscape!"

  Listening to Mark Anderson's words, Jim Clark was obviously a little unwilling, but helpless, and finally got up muttering, "I will go to talk to Song in person, this is an opportunity..."

   When I heard that ICQ was going to acquire AOL Time Warner, I was equally nervous, and there was another company.

  Microsoft headquarters has become a mess at the moment. Ballmer, who has just settled the antitrust case and is in full swing at Microsoft, is sitting in the position of president at the moment, feeling like he is sitting on pins and needles.

   "Is the news accurate? Is ICQ really going to acquire AOL Time Warner, and is Netscape browser also in the deal?"

  Ballmer asked a group of executives. Ballmer felt that he was here to clean up the mess. One wave of ups and downs rose again, and he had to deal with Microsoft's internal troubles, which made Ballmer feel a little bit battered.

   "I just talked to AOL Time Warner Vice President Richard Parsons on the phone. Time Warner is indeed ready to talk to ICQ, and he can't stop him!" Todd, president of Microsoft's public relations department, said to Ballmer.

   Exhaled a long breath, Ballmer looked at Bill Gates and others, and then asked calmly, "So, is Microsoft going to face a new war?!"

   "Not necessarily!"

  Todd could clearly feel that everyone's eyes were on him, but he still said bravely.

   "Song may not necessarily want to fight Microsoft again in the browser industry. Perhaps, Netscape Browser is not the key to this merger!"

   It is obvious that Song Yang can't buy AOL Time Warner at a sky-high price for the Netscape browser that has no more users. Wouldn't he be full and just force fry a dish for the newly bought soy sauce? !

   "But who can guarantee that after ICQ gets the Netscape browser, it won't go to war with Microsoft?!"

  Terry Meyerson, who is in charge of the Microsoft WP system, said suddenly at this time.

If within Microsoft, who would most like Microsoft to start a war with ICQ, probably none other than Terry Melson, who is in charge of the Microsoft WP mobile phone system, which has been suppressed by Symbian. If Microsoft starts a war with Song Yang , then his WP system will be valued, and he naturally wants to start a war.

   "Maybe, when the ICQ-Time Warner deal is done, Microsoft can buy Netscape from ICQ.

  Of course, the cost may not be small. The most important thing is not to buy the Netscape browser, but to ensure that Bruno Song will not enter the computer browser industry! "

  Microsoft Chief Financial Officer Greg Maffei proposed a new plan at this time, which was to buy the Netscape browser to solve the trouble once and for all.

   "So, Microsoft is going to pay protection money to Bruno Song now?!"

  Terry Meyerson said sarcastically again, buying the useless Netscape browser from Song Yang, besides paying protection fees, what else can he do!

   Greg Maffey, who wore the hat, also had an ugly expression on his face, "If Microsoft goes to war with ICQ, I'm afraid it will cost more dollars than buying the Netscape browser!"

Ballmer rubbed his chin and bought the obsolete Netscape browser from Song Yang. It seemed that he was paying protection fees. In fact, he wanted Song Yang to guarantee that he would not be in the computer browser industry. Microsoft is at war. If you spend a little money, you can solve the trouble. For Microsoft, which is rich and powerful, it is not too cost-effective.

   "Todd, you need to go to New York, I want to know what Bruno Song really wants!"

Todd, Greg Maffei and others all know that Ballmer is inclined to Maffei's proposal. Just after the antitrust lawsuit, Microsoft is seriously injured. This is the time to lick its wounds. , then Microsoft may really be dragged down.

   "Song, I finally see you!"

  Jerry Levine brought a group of AOL Time Warner directors and executives to Song Yang's North Shore Manor on Long Island again.

  Ted Turner was also among them. When he saw Song Yang, he immediately said enthusiastically, people who don't know, seeing this scene, would never have imagined how dirty this old man is when he scolds others.

   "Time Warner made a wrong decision at the beginning. If it had merged with ICQ, it would never have the trouble it is today!"

   In front of everyone, Ted Turner said without hesitation that it was Jerry Levine who misjudged the person and joined AOL, and he lost everything.

   Song Yang just laughed it off when he heard Ted Turner's words. If ICQ had merged with Time Warner back then, then the old man would have scolded Song Yang instead of going to the Rainbow Hall of the Rockefeller Building.

   "But fortunately, Time Warner has a chance to choose again, which is not everyone's luck!"

Song Yang sat down and said to the crowd, expressing his attitude and putting pressure on AOL Time Warner. This acquisition is also an opportunity for Time Warner. If you miss this village, there will be no such store. …

   After sleeping for two days, I feel a little refreshed in the afternoon, everyone should take care of yourself ()

  (end of this chapter)