Back To 1995

   Chapter 488 Weathervane

   In the face of the aggressive Federal Department of Justice, Orrin Hatch's attitude today has explained everything. If Bill Gates and Microsoft backed down at the beginning, it is estimated that even the underwear will lose in the end.

And if you are very tough from the beginning, then maybe there is still a chance, just like two people bargaining, the opposite side will ask for a hundred, if you give it directly, then it is impossible for him to get more. After a while, slowly make concessions, then in the end you can't say, just give the other half, or even less, to solve this matter!

   The same is true for Microsoft. If Bill Gates admits defeat today, it is estimated that Microsoft will definitely not escape the fate of being split.

Now that Microsoft is getting tougher and stubbornly attacking Orin Hatch, then put it in the back, Bill Gates bowed his head to Orin Hatch to admit his mistake, and let Orin Hatch get his face back, enough for Orin Hatch in Amy The Liga people have a big credit in front of them.

   Microsoft may be able to get rid of the fate of being split. Although it may pay a huge price for this, it is much more cost-effective than breaking it into pieces.

   Microsoft’s move is to advance and retreat. If you have to compare it, it can only be the performance of the Italian Legion during World War II, when they fought against England.

After watching this hearing, Song Yang didn't pay attention to Microsoft's affairs. He didn't beat Bill Gates and Microsoft to death today, and he didn't let Bill Gates admit Microsoft's monopoly in court, then this matter will be dragged on. It is likely to become a lawsuit that lasts for several years, which is beneficial to Microsoft. The longer it drags on, the more beneficial it is to Microsoft.

  Irene and the others heard Song Yang's words and quickly understood what Song Yang meant, which could also explain why Bill Gates, who was already middle-aged, was so arrogant today.

What Song Yang can see, the old foxes in Silicon Valley and Wall Street, naturally also understand, knowing that it is impossible to overthrow Microsoft in a short period of time, and the computer and software industry still has to be shrouded in Microsoft. Under the shadow, in a short period of time, the pattern of the technology industry will not change!

  Washington, after the hearing, Jim Clark has been sitting alone in the lounge next to the hearing hall. The others have already left, but Jim Clark has not left.

  The door of the lounge was pushed open, and Mark Anderson walked in. When he saw Mark Anderson, Jim Clark's silent eyes showed some anticipation.

Mark Anderson slowly shook his head and looked at Jim Clark, who had gray hair in just over half a year. He knew that the document that made Microsoft invest was just an unintentional act at the beginning. If Jim Clark knew, he would With today's scene, the fax document would definitely not be sent, but Mark Anderson couldn't help but sigh.

  Today's hearing will not have a fatal impact on Microsoft's entire antitrust case, but it has the role of a weather vane, but it is obviously a disadvantage today.

   "Orrin Hatch didn't agree to your request to meet Jim, but..."

  Mark Anderson reassured Jim Clark, "Orrin Hatch promised that the Department of Justice will continue to sue Microsoft for monopoly, split Microsoft into two companies, and Netscape still has a chance!"

Hearing this, Jim Clark could feel Orin Hatch's disappointment. Jim Clark sighed. He didn't expect that Microsoft would be able to come up with something from a few years ago, so that Netscape's testimony changed. Not so believable.

   "Maybe, it's time to end!"

   Jim Clark gave a wry smile and turned to his most satisfied disciple, Mark Anderson, who he once regarded as the next-generation leader.

   "Jim, we still have a chance. Today Compaq, Sun, and Oracle have all testified for Netscape. Microsoft really has a monopoly, and Netscape still has a chance!" Mark Anderson hurriedly said to Jim Clark.

  Mark Anderson, as the digital hero of Silicon Valley, is considered to be the symbol of Netscape, but the real helm of Netscape is Jim Clark. If he lets go, Netscape really has no chance.

   Jim Clark waved his hand and looked at Mark Anderson with a worried expression, "Even if Netscape wins this lawsuit, does the Internet still belong to Netscape?!"

   Listening to Jim Clark's words, Mark Anderson was a little silent for a while, and he was reluctant to admit it, but Anderson still knew that the Internet has changed its dynasties. In the past few years, Netscape and Microsoft have been fighting in the browser industry, and Silicon Valley has already been surging.

The limelight of the Internet has long since transitioned from the original concept of browsers to portals, instant messaging, e-commerce, etc. In particular, a certain guy has played with new concepts such as Internet games and electronic payment, and Netscape, Missed everything...

   "In the beginning, Netscape was a portal for users to access the Internet through a browser, but now what?"

Jim Clark shook his head and sighed, "The Internet already has too many channels, even if Netscape is missing, there are still Yahoo, ICQ, AOL, Netscape is no longer irreplaceable, especially that guy Bruno Song, They even came up with a mobile browser!"

   Hearing Jim Clark's words was like piercing the last layer of window paper, and these problems that Mark Anderson was unwilling to face, also appeared in front of him again.

Jim Clark got up and patted Mark Anderson on the shoulder, "I'm going to complete the sale of Netscape before Christmas. As long as it doesn't sell to Microsoft, Netscape will be sold to whomever offers a high purchase price. I Already talked to Bruno Song, he will support Netscape sale!"

   Regrouped, ready, and finally, Jim Clark, who made a big move, swept away the decline and was ready to find a big grievance buyer for Netscape.

  Mark Anderson was sitting there, a little dumb for a while, Jim Clark made a decision, Anderson knew that Netscape must be sold.

   In just a few years, Netscape has gone through the initial construction, listing, and now selling. Everything that others may need decades to experience, Anderson experienced it within a few years.

   Anderson knew that after Netscape was sold, his net worth would definitely not be affected, but seeing the Netscape he built with his own hands, selling it like this still made Anderson feel disappointed.

   I'm afraid no one would have thought that a hearing on Capitol Hill actually decided the fate of the two tech giants!

   On the second day, the major technology and financial media reported almost all the reports of yesterday’s hearing, and most of them were criticisms of Microsoft. Anyway, when the media mentioned Microsoft, they basically had nothing good to say.

   This time is no exception. Words such as "Bill Gates ignores the hearing" and "Mr. richest man has an arrogant attitude" have appeared in major media, and they all think that Bill Gates and Microsoft are too arrogant.

   "The Federal Department of Justice announced that it will continue to sue the Microsoft monopoly case, and Microsoft may be split into two different companies in the future!"

  The Washington Post also released news on the front page, which is basically the opinion of the Federal Department of Justice, and continues to chase after Microsoft.

   "Bill Gates faces the most severe charges in America, if the Sherman Act is formally implemented on Bill Gates, the world's richest man may change hands!"

   All kinds of tabloid media are constantly reporting, and all kinds of alarmist rumors are constantly appearing. For example, once Microsoft is broken up, Bill Gates will face a huge fine, and finally have nothing and so on.

The news of these apparently lacy tabloids turned out to be very popular. The more miserable Bill Gates was said, the higher the sales. He ignored it. The Gates family, as well as the Microsoft Tiger equity controlled by various foundations, is about a dozen percent.

   Even without Microsoft, after so many years of investment, Bill Gates is still the richest man in the world. Bill Gates’ investment outside Microsoft has long exceeded his Microsoft equity.

  When the outside world's attention was on Bill Gates and Microsoft's various news, PayPal did not stop, and still kept pulling people's heads.

Most of America's bank stocks are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Since the launch of PayPal, the bank stocks on the New York Stock Exchange have begun to plummet, making a group of people who believe in Buffett's value investing, as well as conservative investors. curse mother.

In the past few years, technology stocks have dominated the world. Nasdaq stocks such as Internet, telecommunications, and computer software have risen rapidly. Traditional stocks, except for Enron, have created "technological energy" and wiped out the Internet and telecommunications. The concept, the energy companies that are constantly making new names, and the stock prices are constantly skyrocketing, the rest of the oil, natural gas, banking, insurance, etc., are not very prosperous.

After the opening of the market today, small and medium-sized bank concept stocks, including small and medium-sized banks such as Alliance Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Estor, etc., all dived collectively again. The worst of them is Prosperity Bank, which is headquartered in Houston. , today opened a straight dive of 17%, and it has fallen by more than 45% in the past few days!

In just a few days, the market value has dropped by half, and major investment institutions have all liquidated Prosperity Bank shares. I don’t know if other banks can survive, but anyway, Prosper, who is in a trough with PayPal, is fighting for food. Riti Bank, I guess it's enough...

As bank stocks fell, countless investors in the New York Stock Exchange saw news about PayPal on Bloomberg. PayPal officially invited more than 630 companies engaged in cross-border trade to enter the PayPal platform, and PayPal promised to exempt them from 3 Monthly transaction fees, these trading companies are expected to bring more than $2.67 billion in transaction volume to PayPal within three months!

This is killing one thousand enemies and losing eight hundred. PayPal would rather not earn handling fees, but also rob these companies, but it is these small banks that are unlucky, PayPal does not earn handling fees, they can throw away It is a large customer with millions or even tens of millions of dollars.

   "This is malicious competition, which completely disrupts the market order. It is even worse than the Microsoft antitrust case. The director of the Louisiana State Financial Office made a dissatisfaction with PayPal!"

   (end of this chapter)